Moral: Utilitarianism 4. utilitarianism & calculation Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is act utilitarianism?
Actions are morally right or wrong depending on their consequences. An act is right if it maximizes what is good, which is happiness.
How does utilitarianism view happiness?
No one’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s; an action is right if it leads to the greatest happiness of all those it affects.
What is the problem of calculation faced by utilitarianism?
It is difficult to work out the consequences of actions accurately.
What is Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus?
A method to calculate the pleasure and pain produced by an action, but it is time-consuming and requires relevant information.
How can we defend Bentham against the calculation objection?
Bentham says we don’t need to know the exact consequences, just the tendency of actions to augment or diminish happiness.
What are Mill’s secondary principles?
Moral rules developed through trial and error that generally promote happiness, such as ‘Don’t steal’ and ‘Tell the truth.’
What is the main critique of Mill’s approach to moral decision-making?
Mill’s approach may not be workable or true to utilitarianism due to its complexity.
What challenge does animal pain/pleasure pose to utilitarianism?
It complicates the comparison of happiness and preferences between humans and animals.
What does Singer mean by ‘speciesism’?
Discrimination against animals solely because they are not human.
What is a key argument Singer uses against speciesism?
Humans and animals share the capacity for sentience, which is essential for experiencing pleasure and suffering.
What is the issue with comparing happiness across species?
It is already difficult to compare happiness among humans, making it even more complicated with animals.
Why might Mill’s inherited moral principles be inadequate for considering animal welfare?
Inherited morality usually does not take much notice of animals’ happiness and often permits their instrumental use.
What is one of the problems with calculation in utilitarianism?
We cannot quantify experiences of pleasure and pain.
Fill in the blank: According to Bentham, the principle of utility approves or disapproves of every action according to the tendency which it appears to have to ________ happiness.
augment or diminish
True or False: Mill believes that happiness is a straightforward standard for moral actions.
False
What is one objection to Singer’s argument regarding speciesism?
It is problematic to compare speciesism with racism due to natural dominance among species.
What is a counterargument to the idea that animal and human pain differ?
Humans are aware of past and potential future pains, but this does not diminish the significance of animal suffering.
What does Singer suggest is necessary for moral consideration of animals?
A new customary morality that takes into account the happiness of all sentient beings.
