Utilitarianism

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  • Created by: Zoe
  • Created on: 08-01-13 19:58

Utilitarianism

Advantages

  • How good or bad an action is related to situation
  • Promotes happiness
  • Can be accepted worldwide- no religious beliefs needed
  • Flexiable
  • Easy decision making
  • Selfless
  • Considers consequences
  • Rule stops ANYTHING conceivable happening.
  • Calculating is easier in rule.
  • Rule- rules can change to benefit society.
  • Preference- Minority is listened to
  • Preferaence- Nothing is moral/ immoral.

Disadvantages

  • Doing a good thing for the wrong reasons.
  • Assumes we all feel pain and pleasure the same.
  • People are means to get to ends.
  • Cannot be certain of results.
  • Cannot measure pain and pleasure.
  • Any conceivable action can be allowed.
  • It can give pleasure at expense of others.
  • Hedonic calculus can become unworkable.
  • Rule doesn't look at situation
  • Rule- Could vote in bad rule.
  • Preference- Not always time to work out.

Evaluation

Bentham version has the most disadvantages. Mills version fixes biggest problem - any conceivable actionLooses some flexiablity. Singer removes the difficulty of measuring pain and pleasure- Leaves room for bad preferences.

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