bentham + kant

Question 1

What does Kant use?

Answer 1

Uses reason to determine what’s right

Question 2

What did Kant want to do?

Answer 2

Make religion something that was based on reason + not faith

Question 3

What does Bentham insist?

Answer 3

Ppl are motivated to seek pleasure + avoid pain

Question 4

What leads to the principle of utility (Bentham)?

Answer 4

Pursue pleasure + avoid pain

Question 5

What’s the principle of utility?

Answer 5

Principle that actions are to be judged by their usefulness

Question 6

What is reason according to Kant?

Answer 6

Reason = universal in everyone who has it but not everyone has same faith
Kant believed that if ethics is based in reason, a more harmonious society would follow

Question 7

What did Kant think humanity was ready for?

Answer 7

Greater autonomy to figure out + follow moral laws themselves through reason

Question 8

What does categorical mean?

Answer 8

Absolute

Question 9

What did Kant believe morality was?

Answer 9

Categorical, not hypothetical
Not dependant on personal feelings

Question 10

What is Kantian ethics? What does this mean?

Answer 10

Deontological - ‘duty based’

Question 11

What did Kant believe about moral duty?

Answer 11

It’s not God imposed, its secular

Question 12

Why does Kant say we should do good?

Answer 12

We should do good bc thats part of what it means to be a rational human

Question 13

What does Kant say distinguishes humans from animals?

Answer 13

Our capacity for rational thought
Appeal to reason makes it an universal ethic

Question 14

What does Kant say about good will?

Answer 14

Its the only thing that unconditionally, universally + intrinsically good

Question 15

What can’t measure goodness according to Kant?

Answer 15

Consequences bc they’re uncertain

Question 16

What does Kant say good will is about?

Answer 16

Having the right motive + duty provides it
Duty for duty’s sake means obeying a moral principle out of duty

Question 17

What’s the hypothetical imperative?

Answer 17

Related to self interest + consequences

Question 18

What is the particular moral principle Kant says should be done out of duty?

Answer 18

Categorical imperative

Question 19

What are the 3 formulations to Kant’s Categorical Imperative?

Answer 19

• Universalisability
• Never treat ppl as a mean to an end but an end in themselves
• Act as if you’re making laws for a kingdom that treated ppl as ends in themselves

Question 20

What is summum bonum (Kant)?

Answer 20

Highest good where virtue meets its reward for happiness

Question 21

What should humans strive?

Answer 21

Be worthy of happiness

Question 22

What does Kant say about immortality?

Answer 22

Since the reward for perf. happiness for virtue can’t be achieved in this world, there must be immortality

Question 23

What does Kant say about God?

Answer 23

Only God can provide immortality so he exists to guarantee summum bonum

Question 24

What does Kant say about free will?

Answer 24

We can’t prove free will but it’s a necessary assumption bc free will’s at the heart of morality

Question 25

What are 3 strengths of Kant's categorical imperative?

Answer 25

- Simple + effective - All actions should be good - Cuts emotion from reason

Question 26

What are the challenges to the 3 strengths of Kant's categorical imperative?

Answer 26

- Kants idea of moral rules isn't true for todays world - Surely if consequences are good then the act in achieving it is good (killing someone to save many) - Unrealistic bc emotions are an integral part of what it is to be human

Question 27

What does Bentham say ppl are motivated by?

Answer 27

Desire to achieve happiness Seek pleasure; avoid pain

Question 28

What's the principle of utility acc to Bentham?

Answer 28

Actions are right if they promote pleasure AND Wrong if they produce pain

Question 29

What does Bentham believe about happiness?

Answer 29

Everyone has a right to happiness, regardless of status or life situation

Question 30

What mattered to Bentham?

Answer 30

Sentience; not intellectual capacity, race or even being human

Question 31

What is the sole good + what is everything else acc to Bentham?

Answer 31

Happiness is sole intrinsic good Everything else is at best instrumentally good

Question 32

What does instrumentally good mean?

Answer 32

Quality that might/might not have value

Question 33

What did Bentham say needed to be considered in moral decisions?

Answer 33

Each situation needs to be considered

Question 34

What was Bentham's approach to happiness?

Answer 34

In terms of quality

Question 35

What did Bentham devise? Why?

Answer 35

Hedonic calculus; to estimate overall rightness/wrongness of an action

Question 36

What are the 7 criteria to the hedonic calculus?

Answer 36

Intensity, duration, propinquity, fecundity, purity, extent, certainty

Question 37

What are 4 challenges to Bentham's util?

Answer 37

- Too much emphasis on consequences we can't be certain of - Motive + rules are seen as being of no importance - Potential interests of minorities to be ignored - Commits the naturalistic fallacy

Question 38

What's the example given in Kantian ethics to show acting on emotion rather duty?

Answer 38

Someone is begging on the street; a friend cries, fumbles in his pocket + gives the beggar money NO MORAL WORTH bc friend is acting on emotion not duty

Question 39

What is Kant not saying?

Answer 39

Not saying that to act morally we have to get rid of sympathy, empathy, desires, love etc

Question 40

What is Bentham's view thats in line w Christian thinking: regarding motivation? What is Jesus' view that links to this?

Answer 40

His attempt at social reform is motivated by compassion + stresses equality for all Jesus said ppl would be judged based on resp. to those in need

Question 41

What is Bentham's view thats in line w Christian thinking: regarding his concern? What is Jesus' view that links to this?

Answer 41

B was concerned w what led to greatest good for greatest number Rules had to be set aside J sometimes acted situationally (healed on Sabbath; day of rest)

Question 42

What is Bentham's view thats in line w Christian thinking: regarding self interest? What is Jesus' view that links to this?

Answer 42

Self interest is inevitable as a part of human nature 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself' - J rec. self love

Question 43

What is a view from Bentham that shows lack of accordance w Christian thinking?

Answer 43

B says self interest is inevitable Christianity teaches selflessness