Utilitarism Flashcards
what is the trolley problem ?
scenario where a person is stood next to a switch that can change the direction of the track to kill only one person rather than multiple, the agent is typically required to choose between doing something or nothing, although doing nothing will cause less harm they will be directly responsible
utilitarian approach to the trolley problem and why?
take action and switch the lever to reduce harm as this scenario results in ultimate pleasure and minimal pain as fewer die
definition of Utilitarianism?
argues that the good and right thing to do is that which leads to the greatest good for the greatest number (relativist + teleological but slightly deontological due to principle of utility which never changes )
who was Bentham? (1748)
a social reformer (spoke against slavery, supported women’s rights and that homosexuality should be decriminalised)
what did Bentham believe?
that all people were hedonists (hedonism = doctrine holding that behaviour is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain) motivated by pleasure and pain
Bentham quote for introduction?
‘nature has placed mankind under the governance of tow sovereign masters, pain and pleasure’
who was John Stuart Mill?
the godson of Bentham who aimed to correct Benthams quantitative utilitarianism ,being more interested in the quality of the pleasure
what did John Stuart Mill argue about pleasure?
that there are two types ;
- high pleasure that only human beings can enjoy such as intellectual conversation
- low pleasure that both humans and animals can enjoy such as food, sleep and sex
as we have all experienced both types of pleasure Mill argues that the higher pleasures are more important
🔔so gang rape example fails as the rapists pleasure is lower than the pain of the person raped
what does Mill see as a fault of Bentham?
recognises the risk allowing ‘the tyranny of the majority’ where the pleasure of the majority can justify the suffering of a minority
- in his book ON LIBERTY he writes about the non harming principle, beliving that each individual should be free to live as they choose as long as they don’t create harm for others
what is act utilitarianism?
aims to provide the best balance of good over evil in any case, and that this is achieved through treating each situation uniquely (most associated with Bentham)
what does act utilitarianism consist of?
- each moral situation being unique
- applying utility principle to each act
- acts are right if they produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number
pros and cons of act utilitarianism?
✅
- flexible, recognising no 2 situations are the same
- principle of pleasure easy to follow + puts person first
- every not equal (eg some need more help, positive discrimination)
❌
- too situational/can be deviated with no consistency
- gang rape example, very obviously bad things canoe allowed
- what about those not in the greatest number (the minority) ‘tyranny of the minority’ who suffer
what is rule utilitarianism?
the idea that we should always follow the rule that generally leads to the greatest balance of good over evil for society rather than the individual
pros and cons of rule utilitarianism?
✅
- offers quicker approach as don’t have to ask the person
- upholds rights and justice which can be lost in act
- rules not being fixed means rules can change (needed eg suffragettes)
❌
- cultural relevance, cant apply rules over diff cultures
- arrogant to assume we know what will bring the most happiness
- might forget about rules that have previously worked
what is strong rule utilitarianism?
once we have decided what rule leads to the greatest good,these rules are fixed and under no circumstances can be broken
