Utilitarianism (Moral Philosophy) Flashcards
What is utility?
Utility is an action that provides happiness/pleasure.
What is Bentham’s “Hedonistic Utilitarianism”?
A quantitative approach to happiness
Agrees with the principle of utility
Humans are naturally motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain, hedonism is the pursuit of happiness
Pleasure is quantified using Bentham’s utility calculus
What is Bentham’s utility calculus?
Pleasure is quantified using intensity (how strong), duration (how long), fecundity (will it cause further pleasure) , certainty (how likely it is) purity (how free from pain), and extent (how many does it affect)
The amount of happiness produced- the overall pain produced
What is Act utilitarianism? (Bentham)
Act utilitarianism is the believe that we should act in the way that produces the most utility for the most people (Killing one person rather than 20,
Problems with Act utilitarianism
Long term consequences cannot be known
This leads to counterintuitive results (killing a single person for their organs in order to save multiple people)
Calculating the moral worth of an action is time-consuming
Rule utilitarianism (Mill)
Allows for the tyranny of the majority, which overrules the morality of an action
What is Rule utilitarianism? (Mill)
The argument that there should be general rules that should be followed when achieving utility (Don’t kill, don’t steal)
Actions that follow these rules provide utility/happiness
What is Mill’s hedonistic utilitarianism?
An alternative view of utilitarianism
rejects utility calculus, doesn’t accept that pleasures and pain are of equal value
Higher and lower pleasures
Higher: thinking, math, literature, etc
Lower: sensory pleasures
Mill believed higher pleasures are of better quality and are longer-lasting, competent judges will always choose the higher over the lower
“Better to be Socrates dissatisfied rather a fool satisfied
Preference utilitarianism
Non-hedonistic approach to utilitarianism
We should act in a way that maximizes the preferences of others, not maximizing overall happiness (counter to experience machine)
A good act is one that maximizes the preferences of others
For example the deceased person has a wish of having their money donated to charity when they pass, so we should fulfill that wish as we would maximise their preference. Even though it wouldn’t make them happier as they are dead
What is the principle of utility?
The right action is that which tends to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number
Partiality argument
Suggests utilitarianism is an incomplete moral theory as it doesn’t recognise moral relationships/duties
Morality requires us to be partial rather than to act on the basis that the greatest happiness for the greatest number should be achieved
Example: Woman involved in boating accident, with husband and boat owner, she can only save one person
Husband is saved, boat owner drowns
The wife justifies her decision by saying that she saved her husband only because he is a doctor, and more good would result from him being saved
Utilitarianism fails to recognise that morality involves partiality, and is unrealistic in its demands that people act for the greatest happiness for the greatest number
Nozick’s experience machine
Questions about the truth of psychological hedonism
Nozick’s experience machine allows us to become a subject of our own desires, experiencing the pleasure and happiness that comes from them both
When we enter the machine our memories will be tinkered with
most people would be reluctant to plug into the machine as the pleasures or happiness that results would not be produced by actually achieving our goals, even though the act would suggest we do as it creates the greatest happiness (act utilitarianism would ignore our personal preference)
This would make Mill and Bentham’s hedonism wrong as happiness and pleasure aren’t the only things of value, and we aren’t just motivated by pleasure
Counter: preference util
Integrity
Integrity means to act accordingly to your own morals and values no matter the situation
Utilitarianism attacks our moral integrity as it sometimes may require us to set aside our own moral values to maximize happiness
Example:
George has just completed his Ph.D. in chemistry and is looking for a job, he also has to take care of his wife and kids and hasn’t found much luck
His friend gives him an offer to work at a lab that makes chemical weapons, but George is against this as he is opposed to chemical warfare
Utilitarianism would suggest that he should ignore his integrity and take the job, as his happiness is outweighed by the potential happiness of others, and refusing the job will just mean someone else will take the spot
