Religion and Ethics - Utilitarianism

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Who first proposed utilitarianism?
Jeremy Bentham
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Bentham argued for which principle?
The principle of utility
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What is the principle of utility?
Performing an action which brings the greatest good for the greatest number. Try to help as many people as you can. That seems like a good rule.
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Is the theory deontological or teleological?
Teleological since it focuses on the outcome of an act - pleasure or goodness.
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What is another word for teleological?
Consequentialist, end outcome or consequence.
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What is this theory rooted in?
Hedonism - the idea that humans desire pleasure and avoid pain.
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Is the theory quantitive?
Yes - because it measures the greatness of pleasure by how many experience it.
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What did Bentham devise as a means of measuring pleasure?
The hedonic calculus.
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When should we use the hedonic calculus?
When making a moral decision concerning the greatest good for the greatest number.
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What are the seven criteria of the hedonic calculus?
DR. PRICE - Duration, Remoteness, Purity, Richness, Intensity, Certainty, Extent.
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What does duration mean?
How long will the pleasure last?
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What does remoteness mean?
How near the experience of pleasure is.
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What does purity mean?
How free of pain is the experience.
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What does richness mean?
To what extent will it lead to other pleasures (full of pleasure).
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What does intensity mean?
How intense is the experience of pleasure.
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What does certainty mean?
The likelihood of pleasure arising.
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What does extent mean?
How many people does it affect (principle of utility, greatest good for the greatest number).
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What are the problems with the hedonic calculus?
Can pleasure be quantified if its not a material substance? Is pleasure the same for everyone? (no), can we even make an accurate prediction of pleasure brought about by an action?
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What is act utilitarianism?
A person's act is morally right if it produces the best outcome - the greatest good for the greatest number.
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Who supported act utilitarianism?
Bentham
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What can act utilitarianism lead to?
The tyranny of the majority (Mill).
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How is act utilitarianism criticised?
Because pleasure is different for everyone, torture, sex trafficking, enslavement etc. could be justified if they produce pleasure for a group of people who outnumber the minority. e.g if you and your friend were debating with a child s*x ring.
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What did Mill argue about pleasure?
There were different types/levels of pleasure. A person may not strive for actual good and instead choose an apparent good. He wanted to distinguish between the two.
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What did Mill argue about self-sacrifice?
Not good in itself, only good when it contributes to the greater good.
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What did Mill argue was more important, quality or quantity?
Quality was more important than quantity when it came to pleasure. E.g the pleasures of the mind are far superior to the gratification of the body's desires.
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From this he distinguished between...?
Higher pleasures and lower pleasures.
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What is a higher pleasure?
Pleasures of the mind, associated with the development of intellect. E.g listening to Beethoven's Symphony No.5.
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How did he illustrate this?
He said ''It is better to be a human dissatisfied (i.e not succumbing to lower pleasures) than a pig satisfied. It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied".
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What did he mean by this?
It is better to focus on intellectual pleasures in comprise of the satisfaction of our bodies.
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What are lower pleasures?
Pleasures associated with sensory gratification, e.g sleeping, eating,
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What is the problem in distinguishing between two pleasures?
What if something like white water rafting which stimulates the mind and senses, can't be categorised. How can we decide whether eating a piece of chocolate when we really want it, is better than listening to Beethoven?
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What did Mill also propose for?
Rule utilitarianism
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What does rule utilitarianism say?
Rules should be formulated first based on utilitarian principles. An act is good if it conforms to these rules.
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What is strong rule utilitarianism?
The strong form of the theory maintains that rules are created through utilitarian principles must never be broken.
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What is weak rule utilitarianism?
Accepts the need to be flexible over rules but still takes the rule into account.
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What is J.S Mill's Harm Principle?
You can do what you like, so long as you don't harm anyone else.
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Which phrase captures the general sentiment of this principle?
''Your freedom to swing your fist, ends where my nose begins''.
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What is the issue with the Harm Principle?
Allows for bad things to be done in secret, e.g watching child p*rnography - isn't necessarily harming the child, but it is still very bad. Having your feelings hurt doesn't count as harm so we can say horrible things about people.
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What is preference utilitarianism?
Replaces pleasure with ''best interests'' or preference.
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Who devised this/mostly widely associated with this?
Peter Singer.
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How does it work?
Replaces the notion of pleasure with the best interests of the majority.
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What are some strengths of utilitarianism?
Teleological/consequentialist. Focuses on goodness. The majority are satisfied which is surely a good thing? Pain is avoided. Relative to each situation. Measurable.
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What are some weaknesses of utilitarianism?
Mill's harm principle allows for a transgression of rule utilitarianism. Happiness isn't the only thing which is intrinsically good, e.g love. Some people can't be trusted. Tyranny of the majority. Unpredictable - weakness of the hedonic calculus.
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Card 2

Front

Bentham argued for which principle?

Back

The principle of utility

Card 3

Front

What is the principle of utility?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Is the theory deontological or teleological?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is another word for teleological?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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