Bentham- Act Utilitarianism

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Bentham- Act Utilitarianism
- Act Utilitarianism
  - Assesses each individual situation on its own merits with the aim of promoting the greatest happiness for those involved.
- One single basis for ethics
  - Believed this was nature.
  - Rejected morality based on divine authority.
- Beliefs
  - Not only is humanity under the masters pain and pleasure, but that every human should prefer pleasure.
  - Theories are worthless unless they have practical application.
  - Pain and pleasure are products of the senses.
- Hedonic Calculus
  - Purity.
  - Remoteness.
  - Intensity
  - Certainty.
  - Extent.
  - Duration.
  - Fecundity.
    - Chance it will produce other pleasurable experiences.
- Criticisms
  - Views all pleasures of being of equal value
  - Rejects the idea of human rights.
  - Has the logical consequences of allowing what common sense might regard as evil as a good.
  - Theory based on nature.
    - Eighteenth-century concept of nature to morality is outdated.
Single basis for ethics and morality is nature, not divine authority.
- Beliefs
  - Not only is humanity under the masters pain and pleasure, but that every human should prefer pleasure.
  - Theories are worthless unless they have practical application.
  - Pain and pleasure are products of the senses.

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