Utilitariansm, Kant & Situation Ethics 30 Flashcards
(30 cards)
What did Bentham say mattered most for humans?
- living a good life
- avoiding pain and maximising pleasure
Describe the principle of utility
- our moral behaviour causes the greatest good for greatest number of people
- looks at this in a communal sense as a community is the sum of the individuals
How is Utilitarianism teleological?
- decision are made relative to the end and how the situation balances with good and evil
What is the hedonic calculas?
- the system for counting how much pleasure / pain is caused from a moral act
What are the 7 parts of the hedonic calculas
- intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, fecundity (chance of being followed by sensation of the same kind) , it purity (chance it has of not being followed by sensation of the opposite kind) , extent to population it applies to
Describe Jeremy Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism
- we should take each act independently, not establish rule
- some rule of thumb is justified to save time calculation
- end justifies the means
How does John Stuart Mill adapt Bentham’s approach?
- human happiness rationally distinguished between baser pleaser and higher ones
- Problems with justice, eg hedonic calculas some will suffer, Mill wanted to differentiate pleasures
Describe Peter Singer’s Preference Utilitarianism
- best interests of people
- all miniatures taken into account
- instead of maximising pleasure, it should be minimising pain
How does Rawls (1921-2002) criticise Bentham
- generic root when looking at the effect of an act
- the consequences will be subjective between each individual person, not just looking at society as a whole
How does Bernard Willians (present) criticise Utilitarianism
- “doctrine of negative responsibility”
- is a Robber says “if u kill 2 out of the 5 members of your family I have hostage, I will let the other 3 go”
- Utilitarianism states that you should kill for greatest food
What should our motive be according to Kant
- moral action should be our good will (not out of any emotion)
Where does the good will come from + problem
- innate in us
- he does use metaphysics, where metaphysics May be the only way to have innate knowledge of “the good will”
What type of theory is Kantian Ethics?
- deontological
- about the action within itself
- duty for duties sake
What is the categorical imperative?
- an unconditional moral obligation that is binding irrespective of ones purpose
What are the 3 parts of the categorical imperative?
- universal law (applies to everybody)
- Humans (as a means not end (action within itself
- Kingdom of Ends (everyone equal value)
What should moral behaviour achieve, according to Kant?
- summon bonus (the supreme good
What is Kant’s belief of an afterlife?
- There is an afterlife where God provides an opportunity to reach this state of supreme food
What are the 3 postulates?
- Freedom
- Immortality
- God
(FIG)
What are Hegel (18th century) 2 criticism of Kant?
- does not provide anyone on what specifically to do (only focus’ on non-contradiction)
- forces humans into internal conflict between reason and desire
How does Mill (19th Century) criticise Kant?
- Kantian ethics can’t explain why actions are wrong
- you have to look at the Utilitarianism’s principle of utility instead of reason
What is key about Joseph Fletcher’s society
- permissive society
- allowing/ accepting things eg, abortion, homosexuality
What type of theory is Situation Ethics
- Teleological, Christian Liberal Theory
What are Fletcher’s four working principles
- pragmatism
- relativism
- positivism
- personalism
What is Situation Ethics Rooted in?
- New Testament
- Jesus’ teachings eg, “love thy neighbour”
