Utilitarianism
- Created by: Rachel
- Created on: 30-04-14 14:46
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- Utilitarianism
- Main Principles
- act is moral if it brings about the greatest happiness for the greatest number - hedonistic
- relativistic - no fixed moral riules
- Teleological/ consequentialist- focused on aim or consequence of action
- J.Bentham
- calculate outcome with most pleasure and least pain - QUANTITATIVE
- Hedonic calculus - DICE.RRP
- measures moral value of an act by reference to consequence
- Peter Vardy, Paul Grosch- happiness in quantity not quality, predicts consequences, happiness/pain subjective
- 'two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure'
- universal ethical hedonism - every one has equal right to happiness
- act - consequences of each act depends
- non-elitist, industrial revolution,
- JS Mill
- 'Better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied'
- adapted Benthams, thought some pleasures more valuable than others - QUALITATIVE
- didn't agree with act justifiying violence for majority- gang ****
- shouldn't aim for pleasure but for happiness and that of society
- wished to avoid idea Utilitarianism was theory of base gratification
- Higher and lower pleasures
- rule - action is right when it can be made into a rule that leads to greatest good rather than being based on individual circumstance
- golden rule
- harm principle- majority may not interfere with minority unless it prevents harm to others
- Preference Utilitarianism
- RM Hare
- distinguishes between pleasure and best interest. not everything that is pleasurable is in best interest
- Weaknesses
- Ignores Minority- holocaust
- hedonic calc too clinical
- Strengths
- Main Principles
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