Utilitarianism

Bentham - Hedonist 

Act Utilitarianism

Principle of Utility

"Nature has placed mankind under two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure"

An introduction to the principles of morals and leglisation.

RELATIVISTIC TELEOLOGICAL CONSEQUENTIALIST

Hedonic Calculus 

INTENSITY, DURATION,RICHNESS,REMOTENESS,PURITY, CERTAINITY, EXTENT

Quantity of Happiness

Quality over Quanity 

Higher and Lower pleasures

" It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.."

The Principle of Utility can be acheived by drawing up general rules.

Two types - Weak Rule and Strong Rule Utilitarianism 

To what extent is Utilitarianism compatible with the traditional teaching of one major world religion?

Compatible 

Encourages selflessness- "Love your neighbour as you love yourself"

Strong Rule Utilitarianism is Absolutist - 10 commandments

Utilitarianism goal is happiness- Christianity goal is also happiness

Incompatible

Utilitarianism is a secular theory 

Christianity is Absolutist/Deontological whereas Utilitarianism is Relativistic/Consequentialist

Act Utilitarianism goal is to acheive happiness - Christians goal to acheive the will of God

Strengths

For many people Happiness is the key aim in life.

Evaluates consquences- real effects of people basis of evaluating actions.

theory treats everyone the same.

Simple just acheive the greatest happiness.

Provides a way of measuring happiness- Hedonic Calculus.

Weaknesses

Reliant on human ability to predict consquences.

fails to consider duites or obligation to others.

Happiness is subjective

Hedonic Calculus is impratical