utilitarianism

Question 1

who created act utilitarianism?

Answer 1

Jeremy Bentham

Question 2

social background

Answer 2

. industrial revolution
. people moving to cities expecting streets to be paved with gold
. appalling working conditions
. revolution in france and america

Question 3

what did he say about pain and pleasure?

Answer 3

.moral decision ls increases pain and decreases pleasure
. make choice on what will bring most pleasure

Question 4

Bentham’s utilitarianism can be divided into 3 parts?

Answer 4

1. his view on what drives and motivates humans
2. the principle of utility, his moral rule
3. the hedonic calculus

Question 5

1. his view on what drives and motivates humans

Answer 5

. humans are motivated by pleasure and pain
. therefore can be called a hedonist
. bentham believed all humans pursued pleasure and sought to avoid pain

Question 6

2. the principle of utility, his moral rule

Answer 6

. the utility principle
. the rightness or wrongness of an action can be determined by its utility or usefulness
. usefulness refers to the amount of pleasure or happiness caused by the action
. this is often known as the greatest happiness principle

Question 7

3. The hedonic calculus

Answer 7

. a purely quantitative way of measuring seven factors :
. intensity
. duration
. certainty
. propinquity
. richness
. purity
. extent

Question 8

what is intensity?

Answer 8

how deep or superficial the happiness is

Question 9

what is duration ?

Answer 9

how temporary or permanent the happiness is

Question 10

what is certainty?

Answer 10

how sure the happiness is

Question 11

what is propinquity ?

Answer 11

how near or remote the happiness is

Question 12

what is richness ?

Answer 12

how likely the happiness is to recur or lead to further happiness

Question 13

what is purity?

Answer 13

how free from pain the happiness is

Question 14

what is extent ?

Answer 14

how far the happiness- giving effects of an action will spread

Question 15

quote for bentham’s views on what motivates humans

Answer 15

“ nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do , as well as to determine what we shall do “ (1789 chapter 1,1)

Question 16

what is hedonic utilitarianism?

Answer 16

.it is moral fact for Bentham that pleasure and pain identity what we should or should not do
. pleasure is sole good
. pain is soul evil

Question 17

2. principle of utility shortened

Answer 17

“ an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number “

Question 18

what is the greatest good ?

Answer 18

greatest pleasure or happiness and the least amount of pain

Question 19

what is the greatest number ?

Answer 19

the majority of people

Question 20

define the term good

Answer 20

maximisation of pleasure and the minimisation of pain

Question 21

who created rule utilitarianism?

Answer 21

John Stuart Mill ( 1806-1872)

Question 22

who was John stuart mill ?

Answer 22

. a child prodigy
. the son of a good friend of Jeremy Bentham
. an MP
. greatest philosopher of the 19th century

Question 23

J.S Mill and utilitarianism

Answer 23

. he wrote on the subjugation of women which became a major influence on modern feminism
. His ethics were contained online on liberty (1859)and Utilitarianism (1861)

Question 24

what was Mill’s thoughts on utilitarianism?

Answer 24

He believed the well being of the individual is what was most important and this was effectively gained when individuals can pursue their own ends, subject to the rules that protect the common good of all. he also excepted the principle of utility but was concerned it could justify the suffering of the minority in some cases.

Question 25

mills utilitarianism

Answer 25

Mill recognised a flaw in bentham’s theory that by measuring pleasure quantitatively it allowed the pleasure of the majority to eliminate the pleasure of a few in certain cases e.g. sadistic guards mill looked at the idea of qualitative pleasures and i traduced higher and lower pleasures , preferring higher ones to lower ones

Question 26

Mills higher and lower order pleasures quotes

Answer 26

“it is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied “ ( Mill 1863, chapter 2)

Question 27

what are higher order pleasures ?

Answer 27

Pleasures of the mind were higher than pleasure of the body although there is a link to pursue bodily pleasures was not as high an objective as those which are more intellectually demanding

Question 28

act utilitarianism - animal testing

Answer 28

allow duration of happiness hedonic calculus greatest good for greatest number nothing in this theory protecting minority not allow “ why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being ?” jeremy bentham considered a pioneer of animal right “ pushpin is as good as poetry”

Question 29

rule utilitarianism - animal testing

Answer 29

allow animals pleasures and pains do not compare to their human counterparts, in terms of value animals do not appreciate higher pleasures and cannot, therefore operate as utilitarian beings need animals for higher pleasures , stepping stone to reach pleasures “better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied” weak rule - harm principle but animals are not as valuable help society not animals - harm principle not allow harm principle protecting minorities weak rule - laws allow animal testing rule should be broken harm principle protecting humans

Question 30

act utilitarianism - nuclear weapons allow

Answer 30

hedonic calculus- happiness is going to be extent , greater good of majority , eventually fecundity duration long lasting peace , greeted good for greatest number “ an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number “

Question 31

act utilitarianism- nuclear weapons not allow

Answer 31

not always certain - not lead to peace, could encourage and create more violence purity - not pure , violence is used richness money used for nuclear weapons could go to 3rd world countries for aid , or other problems not greatest good for greatest number , pleasure should not be built on nuclear weapons

Question 32

rule utilitarianism - nuclear weapons allow

Answer 32

quantity of happiness - can have in future , remove enemy to have higher pleasures in future weak rule utilitarianism protecting minority

Question 33

rule utilitarianism - nuclear weapons not allow

Answer 33

go against harm principle not a high pleasure protecting minority “ better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied “