Virtue, Character And Integrity

Question 1

What seperates a motive from a character trait?

Answer 1

Desires and wants which tend to give rise to actions - motives are not as persistent as character traits

Question 2

What does Bentham say about motives?

Answer 2

Motives are good on account of their tendency to produce pleasure or avert pain

Question 3

Motive utilitarianism

Answer 3

Theoretically and conceptually seperate from act utilitarianism - a motive utiltiarian can think it better to have a pattern of motivation that will lead one to act wrongly, than to have a motivation that would lead to right action to act wrongly - though often has no difference in external circumstances

Question 4

Jack and the museum example

Answer 4

Jack staying in museum instead of maximising utilty by going home early - at the time he clearly valued staying over utility of he would have left - stronger desire to leave earlier would have ruined his enjoyment.

Question 5

Sophisticated consequentialist and character

Answer 5

Good is only really attainable with a well-developed character which leads to making good choices, we can’t just pursue the principles because that won’t promote happiness, have to have a character which enjoys doing good

Question 6

Diminishing Marginal utility

Answer 6

The more you have the less happiness you get from aquiring more

Question 7

How utilitarianism can allow for integrity

Answer 7

Theory where we have obligation to our special interests first and then allocate our other energy to general utility