Ethics- Utilitarianism

Question 1

theory relies on three key concepts

Answer 1

1. Consequentialist
2. Relativist
3. Instrumental

Question 2

Consequentialist

Answer 2

-places ethical judgements on whether action leads to greatest amount of happiness for greatest number of people
-concerned with outcome

Question 3

Relativist

Answer 3

-believe what is right depends on situation

Question 4

Instrumental

Answer 4

-no moral actions have intrinsic value, only instrumental if produce greater amount happiness greatest number people
-ends always justify means

Question 5

What does Bentham argue humans ruled by

Answer 5

-pain and pleasure, just the way we are
-no choice, we must seek pleasure and avoid pain

Question 6

descriptive claim

Answer 6

-about human nature
-Benthams claim humans seek pleasure avoid pain

Question 7

principle of utility

Answer 7

-normative claim (how things ought to be)
-when faced with ethical decision, we should chose the course of action which maximise pleasure, minimise pain for greatest number people

Question 8

Benthams hedonic calculus

Answer 8

-qualitative way determining right course of action

Question 9

7 factors that must be taken into account when calculating amount of pleasure act will produce

Answer 9

• intensity of happiness
  -duration
  -certainty (how likely happiness is to occur)
  -remoteness
  -richness (how likely reoccur)
  -purity (free from pain)
  -extent (how far reach)

Question 10

Act utilitarianism

Answer 10

-Bentham
-theory right action is one that maximise pleasure minimise pain

Question 11

Weakness act utilitarianism

Answer 11

-happiness cannot be quantified in way hedonic calculus assumes, more complex
-too simplistic to apply to complexities of ethical descision making
-other values arguably more important than happiness, justice or Christian virtues such as compassion
-does not consider motive or intentions
-humans no knowledge future, cannot predict any measures achieved through actions

Question 12

Vardy criticism act utilitarianism quote

Answer 12

-“if the word virtuous held to have meaning apart from greatest working principle, utilitarianism as theory of morality may well be failure”

Question 13

Strengths act utilitarianism

Answer 13

-maximising happiness and minimising pain arguably how most already live their lives, desirable, practical, relevant, acceptable
-hedonic calculus easy use, clear, practical measure
-only allow extreme actions in extreme situations
-focus on majority similar to democracy, best way govern country, minority can’t dominate

Question 14

Mills utilitarianism

Answer 14

-concerned with quality of pleasure
-something different about pleasures of mind such as art, literature and bodily pleasures such as sex or alcohol
-theres higher and lower pleasures
- says pleasure one more desirable

Question 15

Mill quote

Answer 15

‘it is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied, it is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied’

Question 16

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 16

-right action is one which follows rules that if universally obeyed create maximum happiness, minimum pain

Question 17

higher pleasure vs lower pleasure

Answer 17

higher: fulfill intellectual potential
lower: fulfil basic needs and urges

Question 18

hedonism

Answer 18

pleasure ultimate good in life

Question 19

comparison between rule and act utilitarianism

Answer 19

-Mill concerned with quality, Bentham quantity
-both argued only good in life is pleasure or happiness (hedonism)

Question 20

What did mill argue should be developed instead of hedonic calculus

Answer 20

-rules which guide moral agents as to what result in happiness
-developed through trial and error
-followed en masse by society, most happiness least pain for greatest number

Question 21

strengths rule utilitarianism

Answer 21

-recognises we have strong internal conviction that action cannot be right purely because it produces happiness, other principles also important, need be considered
-easier apply ethical descision making than act, clear rules, no need to work out how best apply principle utility in every situation, time consuming
-flexibility

Question 22

weaknesses rule utilitarianism

Answer 22

-focus on rules removes benefits of situationalism and consequentialism, principle utility may not be consequence of rule
-difficult to judge when rules csn be broken to achieve greatest happiness for greatest number, still need lengthy analysis
-how to distinguish between higher and lower pleasures, no categories

Question 23

Nozick critique hedonism

Answer 23

-most people would not chose to live the perfect life pure pleasure, would not abandon reality
-inherent value being connected reality
-value soemthing other than pleasure, defeats hedonism, not everything reduced to pleasure

Question 24

Preference Uilitiarianism

Answer 24

-maximisation of preferences rather than pleasure
-satisfying own preferences not pleasure

Question 25

Strengths preference utilitarianism

Answer 25

-easier take preferences into account as people csn clearly state -easier satisfy preferences identified in moment than try achieve lasting happiness in future -takes into account someone’s preference might not be happiness, soemthing else more valuable eg justice

Question 26

Weaknesses preference utilitarianism

Answer 26

-could be difficulties making descisions between conflicting or complicated preferences -we do not recognise, accept preferences of certain individuals on moral grounds such as wish of terminally ill due to concerns euthanasia -some might not be able express true preference, such as mentally ill, judgements need to be made

Question 27

Negative utilitarianism

Answer 27

-seeks only reduce amount of suffering in world -moral perfection not everybody happy by nobody in pain -seek being end to things which cause misery to sentient beings

Question 28

pearce quote negative utilitarianism

Answer 28

‘no amount of happiness csn justify the horrors of auschwitz’

Question 29

strengths negative utilitarianism

Answer 29

-more ways to do harm than good so focus should be on avoiding harm -harm more important to avoid than it is to achieve happiness, some rather ensure against pain before pursuing happiness

Question 30

weaknesses negative utilitarianism

Answer 30

-some argue that logical conclusion of this is that in order to avoid suffering most effective way is to ensure painless death of mankind -does not recognise some suffering valuable, achieve greater cause, gain compassion understanding others

Question 31

Ideal Urilitarianism

Answer 31

-Moore -rather maximise pleasure or minimise pain, right action is thag maximises certain intrinsically good qualities -since intrinsically good does not matter how others feel about them, absolutist