Utilitarianism

Question 1

first key principle of U

Answer 1

(developed by Mill and Bentham):
- Naturalism: what is natural is good
- Psych. Hedonism: what is natural is pleasure so this is good.

Question 2

Mill quote for Hedonism + explain

Answer 2

“happiness is a good”
- only thing valued in this theory is pleasure

Question 3

Bentham and Mill differing views on pleasure (+mill quote)

Answer 3

Bentham: happiness and pleasure are the same thing (mean the absence of pain)
Mill: happiness is something more than pleasure - “By happiness is intended pleasure”

Question 4

second key principle of U + 5 key points

Answer 4

Principle of Utility: in a moral dilemma you should do the action which promotes the greatest amount of happiness and least amount of pain for the majority
- Bentham argued this should be the 1 norm followed
- individuals do not matter on their own but only as a contributor to the total happiness
- the minority may suffer
- in order to follow the PoU you need to act as a benevolent disinterested spectator
- positive utilitarianism

Question 5

Bentham quote on the principle of utility

Answer 5

“the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong”

Question 6

Bentham quote on being equal in utilitarianism

Answer 6

“Each are to count as one and none for more than one”

Question 7

positive utilitarianism + example

Answer 7

focuses on maximising happiness for majority rather than eliminating pain
- example: Phillipa Foot’s trolley bus

Question 8

Third Key principle

Answer 8

Consequential thinking:
- this determines whether an action is good or not–> if it produces a consequence of the greatest amount if pleasure for majority and least amount of pain
- acts and motives are extrinsically right or wrong (so not in themselves) and so if an action brings about the best consequence it is good in that situation, but not always good or bad (it DEPENDS on the SITUATION)

Question 9

quote on consequential thinking

Answer 9

Mill: “morality of actions depends on the consequences which they tend to produce”

Question 10

pleasure outside of a dilemma

Answer 10

outside of a dilemma, pleasure is neutral: no pleasure is better than another SO they are equal
THUS a pleasure is only better if it gives more pleasure to a majority in a situation

Question 11

quantitative utilitarianism

Answer 11

what matters the most is that its the most amount of pleasure, not what type of pleasure

Question 12

pain and pleasure can be measured

Answer 12

can measure the amount of pain/pleasure each acton can bring in a dilemma using the Hedonic calculator: based on the most important properties of pain and pleasure so greatest amount of pleasure can be max. for maj.
- Bentham argued that physiologically all humans are the same so they will exp the same amount of pain + please from the same action, it just differs in its extent (how many people it affects) and its magnitude (how strong) and duration (how long)

Question 13

example of Hedonic calc in practise

Answer 13

Michael Palmer’s example:
- rich man drops wallet (w/ £50 in it)
- poor man picks it up
- using calc:
–> extent: 2 people
–> certainty: little doubt the rich man will exp that much pain, and the poor man will exp more pleasure if he keeps it - SO keep the money

Question 14

act utilitarianism

Answer 14

this is where in every single moral dilemma you need to use the hedonic calc to work out which action to take

Question 15

how does Mill’s utilitarianism criticise Bentham?

Answer 15

Mill felt Bentham reduced us to animals bc it suggested all we want is pleasure: “the accusation supposes human beings to be capable of no pleasures except those of which a swine were capable” + that this could lead to inhumane situation s (eg slavery)

Question 16

what does Mill argue?

Answer 16

• we should focus in happiness not pleasure (bc he felt happiness is diff from pleasure bc it is about flourishing)–> need to try and maximise the higher pleasures for the majority
• “Some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more valuable than others” : higher pleasures: these lead to happiness and are to do w/ the mind such as intellectual and social enjoyments (eg reading poetry). lower pleasures: concerned with the body: eating and sex

Question 17

what does mill think a competent judge is and what is their role?

Answer 17

• someone with a cultivated mind, full knowledge of both types of pleasures and who consistently tries to maximise the higher pleasures in their life
• role: example for others to look to, give clarity on what the higher pleasures are, motivate us

Question 18

what is rule utilitarianism?

Answer 18

• set of secondary principles which will generally lead to the principle of utility being fulfilled to best extent
• eg: not lying, not causing injury to others
• no complex calculations (compared to act utilitarianism)

Question 19

difference between strong/weak utilitarianism

Answer 19

strong: we must keep tot he rules no matter what the consequences may be in that situation
weak: rules can sometimes be broken

Question 20

+ve of U: clear, flexible, easy to follow:

Answer 20

• clear: 1 clear rule (principle of utility) so easy to use
• flexible: the 1 rule can applied to any dilemma
• RLA: used by govt when looking at what medicines to fund based on if it will affect majority

Question 21

-ve of U: not clear or easy to follow

Answer 21

• assumes pain + pleasure are objective but they are subjective
• Paradox of Hedonism: some Greek philosophical argue max. happiness is impossible bc once we have this we want more
• Do we want happiness? Moore claims we want love and beauty, but Dostoevsky claims we want virtue and rights
• Law of Unforeseen consequences- so its not easy to follow bc its unpredictable

Question 22

+ve of U: has an objective basis that is universal

Answer 22

• ideas about goodness is based on what we objectively experience: human nature desires good and avoids bad- so has a universal appeal
• non-religious: can be used by all - an anthropocentric basis of morality
• looks to the consequences (not motives- which are subjective) which can be seen and measured

Question 23

-ve of U: not objective basis or universal

Answer 23

• Hume: Is/Ought problem- Just because we experience people desire happiness (is) does not mean this is good (ought)
• Moore: good/bad is non-natural and that Util. ignores this

Question 24

+ve of U: leads to a fairer world

Answer 24

• no one counted more than once
• have to ignore special considerations - Phillipa foot trolley bus
• theory requires you are altruistic –> makes a person less selfish and the world fairer

Question 25

-ve of U: will not lead to a fairer world

Answer 25

• people will only want to max. their own happiness
• Russell: fallacy of composition: just bc we desire happiness does not mean we will want this for other people
  –> Dawkins: selfish gene
• MacIntyre: “how great the price that is being paid for the happiness”- people will do what they can to ensure themselves happiness (supported by evidence from when the Soviet state justified killing innocent people as a means to keep the state running smoothly)