Utilitarianism

Question 1

ACT Utilitarianism Summary

Answer 1

• Judging specific acts in isolation
• The right action is the one that aims at producing ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’

Question 2

How do ACT Utilitarians define happiness

Answer 2

Pleasure and the absence of pain

Question 3

What did Bentham use to measure utility (ACT)

Answer 3

-Utility calculus/Felicific Calculus

Question 4

How does Bentham’s Utility Calculus work (5) +1

Answer 4

The amount of happiness produced is more if:
- The pleasure is more intense
- Will last longer
- Is more certain to occur
- Will happen sooner rather than later
- Will produce in turn many other pleasures

You also need to take into account how many people are affected

Question 5

What is Mill’s ‘Proof’ of Utilitarianism

Answer 5

Mill argues that we can work out what is good by empirical investigation, as opposed to having some innate knowledge of right and wrong

Question 6

Outline Mill’s ‘Proof’ of Utilitarianism

Answer 6

P1: The only proof that something is desirable is the fact that people desire it
P2: We can say that the greatest happiness is desirable as people desire it by desiring their own happiness
C: The only proof needed that the happiness is good is that each person desires their own happiness, and so the greatest happiness is good because morality concerns the desires of the majority of people