Utilitarianism - Mill and Singer Flashcards
Give Mill’s quote about higher and lower pleasures.
It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.
How is Mill a weak rule utilitarian?
For Mill, sometimes best to have a rule that can be broken to bring net happiness
What did Mill think about Bentham’s thinking?
Believed that Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus left the problem of an unhappy minority and too much stress on quantity of pleasure. Also cannot measure Happiness.
What was Mill’s approach to ethics?
Developed a system of Quality of pleasures and pain. Rules must be based on these to protect minority’s contracts in business - based on promise keeping - and bring about the common good.
What did Mill think about human rights?
Thought they were to be protected by laws based on higher pleasure principle and Golden Rule. Fought for women’s rights.
What was a higher pleasure for Mill?
Intellect and virtues
What is the sadistic guards example?
A group of guards are torturing an innocent prisoner and gain sadistic pleasure from this.
What did Mill think about happiness?
He is keen to stress that Happiness matters and based this on the empirical evidence that “Happiness is a fact”
What is a naturalist?
Observation of the natural world and uses reason to deduce answers from it.
What did Mill say about the Golden Rule?
It is the perfect example of utilitarian ethics. The happiness of others and self should be the driving force behind ethics. “Treat others as you would like to be treated” - the result you bring net happiness
What did Mill say about Liberty/Freedom?
It was important for Mill. An individual should have the right to do as s/he wishes as long as no harm is caused to others. Freedom of thought and speech is important, or we would never make progress in society.
What quote suggests that Mill is an Act utilitarian?
“…the right way of testing actions is to test them by natural consequences of the particular action, and not by those which would follow if everyone did the same.”
What quote suggests that Mill is a rule utilitarian?
“…the consideration of what would happen if everyone did the same, is the only means we have of discovering the tendency of the act in a particular case.”
What does Bentham say about human rights?
Says that any talk of rights is “nonsense upon stilts”.
What are the strengths of Mill?
Recognises that happiness is part of our common nature - “happiness is a fact…”. Quality of Happiness protects the interests of minorities. Respects human rights. Recognises that human beings have intellect that needs to be used positively.
