Utilitarianism 😃

Question 1

stick to scedual

Answer 1

we believe in you

Question 2

☃️

Answer 2

No phone till start of next hour

Question 3

deontological VS teleological

Answer 3

D: morality based on actions (doing)
T: morality based on outcome (i.e situation ethics/Utilitarianism)

Question 4

utilitarianism: view of religion

Answer 4

ethics should be apart from religion
plato 🪐 - just cause God allows an action doesn’t make it right

Question 5

why was utilitarianism created.

Answer 5

Bentham and Mill, were concerned with legal and social reform i.e Industrial Revolution
- alcoholism
-child labour
- slums

Inspired by French revolutions to introduce a new morality to improve society/human rights

Question 6

Principle of utility

Answer 6

Usefulness of an action = the amount of pleasure it causes and the amount of people effected 👪

Question 7

act utilitarianism

Answer 7

Bentham
Calculates what is moral in each situation

Question 8

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 8

Mill
Action is right if it conforms to a rule that leads to greatest good i.e driving laws

Question 9

What is hedonism?

Answer 9

Driven to achieve pleasure and avoid pain 

Question 10

What is the hedonic calculus?

Answer 10

Seven criteria for determining which act should be performed to achieve pleasure - a guide to apply the principles of utility.

Question 11

Hedonic calculus seven criteria:

Answer 11

1) Intensity - what amount is the pleasure
2) Duration - How long lasting is it
3) Certainty - How likely that pleasure happens
4) Propinquity - How soon will pleasure happen ⏱️
5) Fecundity - will it lead to other pleasures
6) Purity - will it involve pain
7) Extent - How many people will it effect

(i dont create pleasure for people ever)

Question 12

Strengths of the hedonic calculus (2)

Answer 12

• past experience helps understand pleasure and pain so its a useful measurement
• helpful guide for those in moral confusions

Question 13

Weaknesses of the hedonic calculus (5)

Answer 13

• impractical, applicable to fast decision making 🙅
• can’t predict future outcomes of act 💭
• Paul: judging the morality of act on its outcome is wrong 👩‍⚖️
• supports sadistic acts - if it pleases ruling majority🤺
• swine ethics: more to the human experience than pleasure 🐓

Question 14

Mills criticism of Bentham (3)

Answer 14

• hedonistic view, reduces us to animals and neglect higher human experience/intellect 🐀
• he lived to comfortably (unlike mill and his mental breakdown) so does not know true pain and pleasure 🛀
• not all pleasures are equal 🙅‍♂️

Question 15

Mills belief about pleasure (3)

Answer 15

• should sacrifice P for sake of others 🤺
• rejects hedonism which equates P’s - reducing us to animals that chase bodily pleasure 🐀
• most higher P only appeal to humans 👠

Question 16

Mills saying on higher and lower pleasures

Answer 16

Better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied 🐖

Question 17

Higher vs lower pleasures

Answer 17

H: satisfy mind and help u flourish (eudimonia)
💆🏻‍♀️➡️📚♟️🖼️
L: satisfy body, short lasting so won’t help u flourish
🐼🦍➡️ 🕹️📱🥓

Question 18

What is the harm principle?

Answer 18

Mill
people should be free to act however they wish unless their actions cause harm to somebody else - ensures society works together to flourish

Question 19

Preference utilitarianism 🎶

Answer 19

Singer
Act should be judged on the extent to which it conforms to the preferences and best interests of those involved rather than pleasure - which is subjective.
(P-S)

Question 20

Negative utilitarianism 🍾

Answer 20

Popper
We should prioritise minimising pain (state) before seeking happiness (individual)
(N-P)

Question 21

Ideal utilitarianism 🏝️🚣

Answer 21

Moore
Rejects hedonism by taking into account intrinsic benefits … like beauty👸 and knowledge rather than pleasure or pain
(I-M)

Question 22

Evaluating preference utilitarianism (5)

Answer 22

✅ person centered
✅ pleasure can be subjective
⛔️justifies moral acts of sadists
⛔️ not everyone can express preferences (dementia)
⛔️ current preferences may contradict best interests

Question 23

Evaluating negative utilitarianism (4)

Answer 23

✅ more righteous than pursuing happiness
✅ aids the most needy
⛔️justifies mass euthanasia
⛔️ suffering can be valuable (empathy) unavoidable 🤕

Question 24

Evaluating ideal utilitarianism (3)

Answer 24

✅ things can be unpleasant but good (chemo)
✅ human experience is more than pleasure or pain
⛔️value of intrinsic benefits is subjective

Question 25

Why is utilitarianism beneficial in law

Answer 25

The majority’s interest is considered, dangerous minorities are not allowed to dominate

Question 26

Strengths of utilitarianism (6)

Answer 26

- Secular 🌍 - encourages moral responsibility and autonomy 💪 - pleasure is a human desire, so theory is acceptable, applicable and realistic ❤️‍🔥 - focus on greater good reduces selfishness 👪 - democratic, all are equal - avoids a dictators minority (i.e parliament) 🤴 - modern versions ⚰️

Question 27

Weakness of utilitarianism (5)

Answer 27

- **Swine Ethics** - hedonism has a primal callous view of people (overlooks value on love, freedom)🦤 - 📱HC: impractical, cannot forsee outcomes - **Tyranny of the majority** - can exploit minorities to satisfy sadistic majority - pleasure is invaluable and subjective 💵 - justice is more important than pleasure

Question 28

Criticisms of higher pleasures (2)

Answer 28

- achieving them may require pain - Just because low pleasures are fleeting, doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing