Week 2

Question 1

Utility

Answer 1

the greatest good for the greatest number

Question 2

Benthem

Answer 2

Humans are ruled by two sovereign masters – pain and pleasure, exerting force on the totality of a life (Bentham 1781, 1996).

Question 3

why does utility focus on only pleasure and pain?

Answer 3

reason is subject to these two things and an increase in happiness depends on them, not rational calculation

Question 4

public utility

Answer 4

reason and insight by the society to increase happiness

Question 5

estimating utility

Answer 5

intensity
duration
propinquity or remoteness, fecundity, certainty/uncertainty.
- place values on everything and then sum everything up together

Question 6

Hume

Answer 6

• motive and character, not rightness or vengeance
• everything that contributes to society makes us happy
• approve what is useful and despise what causes pain
• subjective because of this
• a social end

Question 7

John stuart mill

Answer 7

• quantity not quality, but cares about quality
• better to be socrates dissatisfied, than a fool satisfied
• don’t take pleasure in lower acts
• gambling is low pleasure, but brings in good economy

Question 8

modern utilitarianism

Answer 8

an impersonal perspective that gives equal weight to the interests of each affected power