Utilitariansim Flashcards
What is utilitarianism according to Jeremy Bentham?
An action is good if it leads to the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people
What is the utilitarian theory?
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory because it is what an action “leads to”.
What is the hedonic calculus?
In order to decide which action to do, you need to know in advance which action will result in the greater amount of pleasure. The hedonic calculus is what allows you to calculate that.
Higher an lower pleasures
Distinguishes between lower pleasures gained from bodily activity, such as food, sex and drugs, and higher pleasures gained from mental activity, such as poetry, reading, philosophy, music.
How does Bentham differentiate from Mill?
Bentham claimed that all pleasures were equal, that the pleasure gained from poetry is just as valuable as that gained from playing pushpin (a children’s game). Yet even Bentham’s quantitative approach (through the hedonic calculus) will judge higher pleasures superior for tending to produce more durable pleasure
How does Mill differentiate from Bentham?
However, Mill goes further than Bentham and claims that the superiority of higher pleasures can be proven not only on quantitative grounds, but a ‘higher ground’ than that, their superior quality.
How is Utilitarianism Secular?
does not require a faith in any god, which is best in our multi-faith societies. it does not face issues or criticism from this angle.
How is Utilitarianism universal?
every culture has its own rules, but the principle of maximising good and minimising evil applies in every culture, its what the rules are there for.
How can naturalistic fallacy be applied to Utilitarianism?
just because people desire a pleasure does not mean it should be desired. just because people want drugs, does not men they should want them.
how does utilitarianism not take into account the act itself?
it isn’t always the consequences that makes an act wrong, it is the act itself.
What is Singers position to Utilitarianism?
he comes from a position of no emotion or sentimentality. he wanted strict and unemotional application of the principles of util.
What’s an issue with the hedonic calculus?
people do not have the time to sit down and calculate every variable, nor even maybe the capacity: it would be hard to even know what every variable is.
