Utilitariansim

Question 1

define principle of utility

Answer 1

judging the morality of actions by their usefulness in producing benefit and well being

Question 2

describe Bentham’s utilitarianism

Answer 2

• Hedonistic act utilitarianism
• Most moral decisions causes greatest good for greatest number on case by case basis
• calculated with hedonic calculus

Question 3

hedonic calculus

Answer 3

system for calculating pleasure/ pain caused by action- PRRICED

Purity
Remoteness
Richness
Intensity
Certainty
Extent
Duration

Question 4

define hedonisn

Answer 4

principle of pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain

Question 5

5 Strengths of Bentham’s utilitarianism

Answer 5

-Treats everyone equally
-Theoretically leads to positive outcome
-Simple and straightforward
-Can be applied to different societies (Flexible)
- Empirical and Pragmatic: based on what the world is currently not what it should be

Question 6

Weakness of Bentham’s utilitarianism

Answer 6

• Tyranny of majority ( Doesn’t consider individual liberty/ rights)
• Problems with calculation (subjectivity, predicting consequences)
• issues around partiality
• ignores intention
• Nozick (machine)

Question 7

Bentham’s response to the issue of individual rights and liberty?

Answer 7

Human rights are an unnecessary human construct

Question 8

How might utilitarians respond to the issue of partiality

Answer 8

Partiality is ideal, if everyone treats everyone equally and impartially society will be a better place

Question 9

How might utilitarians respond to the issue of ignoring intention

Answer 9

Intention is useless, Consequences are what matter

Question 10

Describe John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism

Answer 10

• Hendonistic rule utilitarianism
• Certain rules generally create more pleasure and less pain, these rules should always be followed universally regardless of the individual situation
• Harm principle: always pursue own happiness unless it infringes on others ability to pursue happiness
• Individual Liberty: People being free to do unconventional things prevents dead dogmas, challenging and refreshing societal rules and status quo
• Higher and lower pleasures

Question 11

Higher pleasures according to Mill

Answer 11

Unique to humans either:
- requiring intellectual complexity
-engages aesthetic imagination
- engages moral sentiment

e.g writing a book, donating to charity, appreciating art

Question 12

Lower pleasures according to Mill

Answer 12

Immediate pleasures we desire like animals, instinctively (eating good chocolate)

Question 13

4 Strengths of Mill’s Utilitarianism

Answer 13

• Treats people Equally
• Theoretically leads to positive outcomes
• solves tyranny of majority
• Allows for different forms/ qualities of pleasure

Question 14

7 weaknesses of Mill’s Utilitarianism

Answer 14

• Problem with calculation (subjectivity, predicting consequences )
• Issue with partiality
• Ignores intention
  -Higher and lower distinctions may be unnecessary
• Nozick

Question 15

Nozick’s arguement against hendonism (5mark)

Answer 15

1. if experiencing as much pleasure as possible is all that matters, we should always do what gives most pleasure
2. plugging into the experience machine gives us the most pleasure
3. if all that matters to us is experiencing the most pleasure, we have no reason not to plug into machine
4. we have no reason not to plug into the machine
5. so experiencing the most pleasure isnt all that matters to us: we aren’t truly hedonists