Teleological ethics (utilitarianism)

Question 1

Who is jeremy bentham

Answer 1

Jeremey Bentham (1748-1832) is accepted as the originator of modern utilitarianism-though the basis of the thic can be traced back to ancient greek philosophers like aristotle, who believed the main aim (highest good) of all moral agents was the pursuit of happiness.

Bentham was a social reformer (particularly prison reformer) and as part of this he sought to develop an ethical theory that promotes actions that would beenfit the majority of people in scoiety, rather than the social elite.

Utilitarianism can also be seen as a 19th century rebellion against strict deontological religious ethics like natural law. utilitarianism is now seen as part of the ‘enlightenment era’ of thr 19th century that turned western curlture away from a basis in ‘God/religion’ to a more secular culture

Question 2

What is the background to act utilitarianism?

Answer 2

Bentham believed everyone wanted to be happy. for bentham happiness was the supreme ethical value or what he called the sovereign good.

“when happiness is present we have everything, but when it is absent we do everything to posess it”

“nature has placed mankind under the goverance of two sovereign masters:pain and pleasure” -humnaity is motivated by two things avoidance of pain and desire for pleasure (pscyological hedonism)
pleasure is the only good and therefore actions must be right if they produce pleasure.

“pleasure and pain alone point out what we ought to do”

Question 3

What is act utilitarianism

Answer 3

Bentham’s act utilitarianism takes a teleological approach and believes that morality should be based on outcome of action and not the action istelf.

it is not legalistic (based on rules) but on guiding princible.

the one guiding princible of act utilitarianism is the “princble of utlity” french word ulite meaning usefullness

Question 4

Describe the princible of utility in act utilitarianism

Answer 4

Bentham claimed the princible of utlity on a phrase originally stated by joesph priestly “the greatest happines of the greatest number”

an action is right if it promotes and maximises happiness.

“By the princible of utlity is meant that princible which approves or disapproves an action on whether an action augments or diminishes happiness”. Morality of any action should be based on whether it prmotes pleasure over pain.

“create all happiness you are able to create remove all the misery you are able to remove”