Utilitarianism (Moral Philosophy) Flashcards
Act Utilitarianism def + Strengths
Utility calculus
An act is good simply if it’s brings more pleasure than pain.
Strengths: Clear, simple guidance + Objective methods.
Rule Utilitarianism def + strengths
Argues Act Utilitarianism and the calculus is impractical.
Rules argues that you should follow general rules (such as don’t kill, don’t steal etc). A rule is good if it brings more pleasure than pain.
Strengths: Consistent, clear guidance
Objection to Rule Utilitarianism: Collapses into Act Utilitarianism or Rule Worship
Collapsing into Act: Most general rules are too basic. ‘Don’t lie’ is a rule, but a better one is ‘Don’t lie, unless to a potential murderer’ and so on until Rule Utilitarianism basically turns into a version of Act Utilitarianism, but with many rules that apply to very specific circumstances
Rule worship: If we accept some rules to be strong, then there will be some that can never be broken.
However, there may be a situation where breaking that rule could cause more happiness.
But we wouldn’t be justified in breaking it as it’s a string rule, therefore meaning the rules actually increase pain sometimes.
This is not maximising utility.
Objection to Hedonistic Utilitarianism: Justifies immoral things - Happy torturer
By hedonistic utilitarianism saying that in all scenarios, we should maximise pleasure and minimise pain, they justify immoral acts.
For example, if the joy a torturer experiences is greater than the pain experienced from their victim, it is justified.
This is an obviously wrong thing to do but is right in the eyes of hedonism.
Hedonistic Utilitatianism
(Act and Rule)
Ultimate goal of all actions is to maximise pleasure and minimise pain.
Higher vs lower pleasures
Higher: Pleasures of the mind (gaining knowledge, reading etc)
Lower: Pleasures of the body (Sex, drinking, drugs etc)
Bonus: Criticism of this is that it’s elitist. ‘Higher pleasures’ such as reading and watching theatre were only accessible to the upper class in Mill’s time.
Mill’s ’Proof’ of the greatest happiness principle
P1. The only evidence something is desirable is when it’s desired.
P2. Everyone desires their own happiness.
C1. Therefore, everyone desires happiness for its own sake
C1. Therefore, happiness is desirable for its own sake (they want happiness so they can be happy)
P3. Other things that are desired - money, power, health etc - are desired parts of happiness.
C2. Therefore, happiness is the only thing that’s desired for its own sake and utilitarianism is true, as happiness is the only true good.
Preference Utilitarianism def + strengths
an action should be judged by how it conforms to the preferences of all those affected by the action.
A good one is one that maximises the satisfaction of all preferences involved.
For example, when considering whether to turn off a life support machine, instead of maximising happiness, we find out what all the relevant parties would prefer and maximise their preferences.
Strengths: accounts for individuals, solves problems of hedonisms
Objection to Preference Utilitarianism - Problem of Calculation: Animals
Bentham exclaimed that a being is morally significant if i can feel pleasure/pain.
This means all animals might be brought into consideration when making a decision (eg to eat meat or not).
This is a problem because:
a.) that is a lot more being to consider
b.) we cannot communicate with animals, so we cannot know their preference. This makes it impossible to maximise their preference.
This leaves the question, how can they be accounted for?
Utilitarianism Essay Plan
P1. Intent (against), Deinition of utility
P2. Act Utilitarianism; Strengths - clear guidance, objective methods
P2.2 Objection: Tyranny of the majority
P2.3 Objection: Problem of Calculation (Impractical, Takes too long)
P3. Rule Utilitarianism; Strengths - Consistent, clear guidance
P3.2 Objection: Collapses to Act Utilitarianism/ Leads to Rule Worship
P3.3 Objection: Issues with hedonism - Justifies immoral things (Happy torturer)
P4. Preference Utilitarianism; Strengths - accounts for individual, solves issues of hedonism
P4.2 Objection: Problem of Calculation (Accounting for animals)
P5. Conclusion
