Moral: Utilitarianism: 6. utilitarianism_partiality_integrity Flashcards
(56 cards)
What is good according to hedonistic act utilitarianism?
Happiness (or pleasure and the absence of pain)
What is the right action in hedonistic act utilitarianism?
The action that maximises happiness
What is the third key claim of hedonistic act utilitarianism?
No one’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s
In Mill’s proof, what does stage two aim to show?
That happiness is the only good
Speciesism refers to treating animals less favourably because they ____ _____ _______.
Are not human
Who introduced the idea of speciesism?
Peter Singer
Utilitarianism faces problems of _____________ due to uncertainty.
Calculation
What is difficult to quantify in utilitarianism?
Pleasure/pain
What is a challenging question for utilitarianism regarding animals?
Whether and how to include animal pleasure and pain in our considerations
Why might it seem that rights are incompatible with utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism doesn’t forbid any particular kinds of rights
Mill holds that the basis for rights is actually __________.
Utility/happiness
Does act utilitarianism ignore the moral relevance of partiality and integrity?
Yes
What is partiality?
Bias in favour of certain people
What aspect of hedonistic act utilitarianism conflicts with partiality?
Impartiality – everyone’s happiness counts equally
One criticism of utilitarianism is that rejecting partiality is too __________.
Demanding
What defence from Mill might we give regarding partiality?
Utilitarianism allows us to treat those close to us differently
What counter-argument exists regarding Mill’s defence of partiality?
Instant global communication and news challenge the focus on close relationships
What example does Bernard Williams use to illustrate partiality?
A man deciding whether to save his drowning wife or a drowning stranger
What is the argument against utilitarianism based on partiality?
Utilitarianism misses the moral value of partiality
What does moral integrity mean?
Acting on and living by values, beliefs, or commitments that you endorse
Why might utilitarianism fail to consider moral integrity?
It disconnects actions from their proper basis of values and commitments
What is Bernard Williams’ example of George the Chemist intended to illustrate?
The conflict between utilitarianism and moral integrity
What does Williams argue regarding responsibility in utilitarianism?
Each of us is specially responsible for what he does, not for what others do
What is the definition of intention in this context?
A mental state that expresses a person’s choice
