Utility Is Not A Useful Concept Upon Which To Base An Ethical System Flashcards
Intro dc
D - utility = a principle where the right action is one that will produce the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people
C - this essay will arg that statement is wrong as the fundamental message of utility fits with human nature and allows for impartial decision making
Pe 1
The first reason to support arg is Benthams fundamental message of utility (maximise pleasure and minimise pain) fits with human nature. Epicurus would agree as believes that humans seek pleasure as d try to avoid pain. Basing an ethical system on this concept leads to people at least attempting to reduce pain in their decisions, which can’t be construed as a bad thing. Utilitarianism also offers a straightforward measurable way of moral decision making (as involves calculating using the hedonic calculus how match pain and pleasure the action will bring)
A 1
- if it is in human nature why wouldn’t it be useful as a concept as we already conform to it
- by quantifying pleasure Bentham made decision making more straightforward and more applicable to decision making as makes pleasure less subjective
C 1
This arg could be refuted by the arg that there are other things that we give moral value, not just pleasure and pain. Nozick would agree with this as he designed a thought experiment that supported this arg. In the thought experiment you are plugged into a ‘pleasure machine’ which stimulates the most pleasurable life possible + would believe is real life. According to utilitarianism this would be the best option as maximising pleasure, however most people would prefer not to ‘be plugged in’ suggesting that there are more important concepts than pleasure - eg experience and reality
E 1
- not how utilitarianism is designed to be applied, is meant for decision making.
- whilst there may be other things should take into account in moral decision making pleasure and pain are the fundamental ones as descion would not be moral if brought pain regardless of whether it had moral value from other things
Pe 2
The second reason to support the arg is the arg that utilitarianism aims to bring the greatest good for the greatest number of people, promoting impartial decision making. Certain groups of people are not valued over others allowing a fair democratic approach to decision making as makes everyone equal to each other. This allows the concept to be helpful to governments etc as can base decisions on how much goodness is brought to lots of people not to a few privileged people. This makes utility a useful concept as it promotes equality when making decisions and doesn’t allow for certain groups to benefit
A 2
- impartial allows us to make the fairest decision and not base decisions on emotions and feelings which is more practical in large worldwide, national decisions
- takes into account the happiness of all and does not count certain peoples happiness as more important
C 2
This arg could be refuted by the arg that utilitarianism can justify actions that are clearly wrong as long as enough people get pleasure from it (tyranny of the majority) allowing minority groups to often suffer because of the decision made (e.g saving doctor who could go on to save lives over 10 old people who have same illness). Utilitarianism is also far too time consuming as in Benthams act ut have to calculate each individual case with hedonic calculus, which is not practical and can’t be used throughout life as by the time decision is made may be too late
E 2
- in moral decision making someone is always going to be on the wrong end of the decision is it not better for most people to benefit from decisions than not
- rule ut removes the time consuming nature of act as using hedonic calculus to generate a rule that will bring most pleasure also removes tyranny of majority idea as is more focused on justice and human rights
