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Alevel RS OCR - Ethics > Utilitarianism > Flashcards

Utilitarianism Flashcards

1
Q

What does utilitarianism aim to create?

A

Greatest good for the greatest number

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2
Q

Is it deontological or teleological?

A

Teleological

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3
Q

Is it a religious moral following?

A

No

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4
Q

Who are the three main adapters?

A

Jeremy Bentham
John Stuart Mill
Peter Singer

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5
Q

Is it consequentialist?

A

Yes

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6
Q

Who was the first utilitarian thinker?

A

Bentham

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7
Q

What type of utilitarianism did he invent?

A

Act Utilitarianism

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8
Q

What did Bentham say the two sovereign masters that govern us are?

A

Pleasure and Pain

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9
Q

What is the utility principle?

A

An action is correct if it promotes happiness and wrong if it creates pain

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10
Q

What method is used to apply the utility principle?

A

The Hedonic Calculus

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11
Q

How many factors should be taken into account in the hedonic calculus?

A

7

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12
Q

What is a pseudonym for the 7 factors?

A

Pretty
Red
Roses
In
Certain
Earths
Die

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13
Q

What does purity mean?

A

Will the pain lead to another pain?

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14
Q

What does remoteness mean?

A

Is the pleasure or pain in the near or distant future?

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15
Q

What does richness mean?

A

Will this pleasure lead to another pleasure?

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16
Q

What does intensity mean?

A

Is the pleasure or pain intense?

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17
Q

What does certainty mean?

A

How certain are you that the pleasure or pain will actually happen?

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18
Q

What does extent mean?

A

The number of people that would be affected by the pleasure or pain

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19
Q

What does duration mean?

A

Will the pleasure or pain last a long or short time?

20
Q

What does Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism ignore?

A

Moral obligations

21
Q

Who was the second utilitarian thinker?

A

Mill

22
Q

What were Mill’s main criticisms of Act utilitarianism?

A

Pleasure and pain are subjective
Can lead to large consequences
The HC is too complex and isn’t quick

23
Q

What was Mill’s utilitarianism called?

A

Rule Utilitarianism

24
Q

Was Mill’s approach quantitative or qualitative?

A

Qualitative

25
Q

What did Mill say about Bentham’s approach being degrading to humanity and morality?

A

‘Doctrine worthy only of swine’

26
Q

How did Mill change utilitarianism?

A

Distinguished between higher and lower pleasures

27
Q

Which pleasures are better? Higher or lower?

A

Higher

28
Q

What are higher pleasures?

A

Intellectual and social

29
Q

What are examples of higher pleasures?

A

Philosophy, opera

30
Q

What are lower pleasures?

A

Have gratification but bad if we overindulge

31
Q

What are examples of lower pleasures?

A

Food, sleep, sex

32
Q

What is Mill thinking of to help achieve?

A

Eudaimonia

33
Q

What is the ‘harm principle’?

A

If an action involved harming another person it was wrong

34
Q

What was the main difference between Bentham and Mill?

A

Bentham wanted pleasure for the majority
Mill wanted the greatest amount of happiness for the whole of human society

35
Q

Which utilitarianism focuses on the individual situation?

A

Act

36
Q

Which utilitarianism looks at the greatest good for society?

A

Rule

37
Q

What is an example of how immorality can be justified in Bentham’s theories?

A

The Sadistic Guards

38
Q

What are disadvantages to utilitarianism?

A

We can’t predict the consequences
Takes time - HC
Minority groups could be unfairly treated

39
Q

What type of Utilitarianism did Singer create?

A

Preference Utilitarianism

40
Q

How does it solve the problems of Bentham and Mills?

A

Argues that people should be able to pursue their preferences as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s pursuit of happiness

41
Q

What does preference utilitarianism focus more on?

A

Minimising pain rather than increasing pleasure

42
Q

What does altruism mean?

A

Unselfish love for others

43
Q

Who thought altruism was important?

A

Mill

44
Q

What is also a difference with Mill and Bentham?

A

Bentham’s hedonic calculus focuses on pleasure whereas Mill’s principle of utility focuses on happiness

45
Q

What are the three steps of the principle of utility?

A
  1. Happiness is desirable
  2. Happiness is the only thing desirable as an end in
  3. General happiness of all is desirable. Increasing happiness of others increases your own
46
Q

Why did Mill link his theory with Jesus’ Golden rule : “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . . .” ?

A

People didn’t see the need in a new ethical theory with Jesus’ beatitudes, so he framed it as an extra part to Jesus’ teachings to attract Christians

Alevel RS OCR - Ethics (9 decks)

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