Utilitarianism

Bentham argued that we must seek pleasure and avoid pain. He argues that this is the basis of our morality.

When faced with an ethical decision, Bentham argues that we should make the decision which creates the most pleasure and minimises pain for the greatest number of people.

Bentham uses the 'hedonic calculus' to calculate whether an act is moral. There are 7 factors in this:

• Its intensity
• Duration
• Certainty
• Remoteness
• Fecundity
• Purity
• Extent

Bentham is an act utilitarianist.