Utilitarianism- Preference

Question 1

Define preference utilitarianism

Answer 1

The moral philosophy that holds that we should maximise not pleasure but the satisfaction of people’s preferences

Question 2

How does preference ut. attempt to avoid objections to act and rule utilitarianism?

Answer 2

Satisfaction of many things will bring us pleasure anyway, but many will not

Prefer to be in touch with reality- pleasure machine

People have preferences after death

Appeal to preferences to explain Mill’s claims about higher and lower pleasures.
Defends distinction by what people prefer

Question 3

Outline objections to preference utilitarianism

Answer 3

Gives priority to those capable of holding preferences above those who can’t

Presupposes some basic by which preferences can be resolved