2: Utilitarianism & Deontology Flashcards
common traits of utilitarianism and deontology
representative of moral philosophies
generalisable universal sense
normative/prescriptive
utilitarianism
utility as the measure of overall goodness of a given state of affairs
moral is to maximise utility so whatever is moral is whatever maximises utility
everyone’s happiness matters equally
only consequences matter
- action is morally right when it produces the right consequences for everyone impacted by it
- normative
prescriptive
prescribing what things ought to be, not what they are
- determinations on morality and the penal system
- consequentialism
whether an action is morally right depends on its consequences
- as opposed to circumstances, intrinsic details
- felicific calculus
mathematical/quantitative algorithm to determine the level of utility of any given action and therefore objectively determine whether it’s morally good or bad
- principle of utility
greatest happiness principle - if an act promotes happiness/utility for the greatest number of people, it is moral
utilitarian theories of punishment
all punishment is equal - every punitive act requires some sort of justification framed in good potential consequences
punishment evaluated for utility, not the criminal act committed
future-consequence orientation
primary aim is to deter and rehabilitate
critiques of utilitarianism
rights are not absolute (right in itself has on moral value)
incompatible with justice
- not about getting what you deserve but whether it results in increased utility
operationalisable? quantification?
deontology
pushing back against utilitarianism
- too subjective as a basis for moral quantification
universal, rational reason as the only potential basis for morality
rejection of consequentialism
- morality has to be stable/universal across all circumstances
duty as the core/locus of morality
good will wills duty for duty’s sake
- follows law because it is objective and based on universal reason
categorical imperative
moral law by which all good wills are determined
- universalisability principle
act according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law
- respect for persons principle
act in such a way that you treat humanity always at the same time as an ends and never as a means
deontological theories of punishment
primary purpose is to actualise/realise justice
right of retaliation which dictates that punishment should be met out in proportion with the severity of the crime
past-oriented as opposed to consequentialism
perpetrator-focused
- treating a human as a means to an end
- immoral to inflict punishment as a means to promote other broader social means
punishment as obligatory but you cannot punish the innocent
critiques of deontology
fundamental indeterminacy of the categorical imperative
overly absolutist
- rigid, absolute idea of rights, duties and permissions
what if punishment has no positive effect?
- no potential benefit but you still have a moral duty to punish them
