What is Utilitarianism?
+ John Stuart Mill quote
- possible problems with this?
an ethical theory that maintains that an action is right if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number
- theory of usefulness
- social utility (useful for welfare of society)
+ “actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number”
- may justify suffering of others e.g bullying or gang rape
- “good” is also very subjective
What is a consequentialist theory?
+ what does this mean?
a theory which understands rightness & wrongness of an action by looking at the consequences
- for some, decisions can be influenced by religion e.g committing sin & gaining bad karma
- for some, decisions can be influenced by the outcome- hurting someone’s feelings
- for some, decisions can be influenced by the law
What is a teleological theory & what does this mean?
+ what is a relativist theory?
a theory which argues all ethical actions are directed towards achieving a goal or purpose
- for some, this goal is Heaven
- for some, this goal is living their best life
- for some, this goal is happiness for all/majority
+ a theory which doesn’t follow any absolute universal rules. Each situation has to be looked at independently
Who is Jeremy Bentham?
+ when was he alive & how would this era have influenced him?
English philosopher, jurist & social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism
+ Victorian England & time of Industrial Revolution
+ no welfare state or adequate help for the poor (workhouses)
+ lack of equal rights for women
+ child labour & poor working conditions
+ bad prison conditions
Why & how was Jeremy Bentham considered a social reformer?
- supported equal opportunity & education (helped to found UCL)
- involved in making prisons more humane
- helped to bring about laws on child labour in Public Health Act
- thought animal rights should be considered
- called for the abolishment of slavery
- called for an early version of welfare
- called for equal rights for women
What is Act Utilitarianism?
+ what is Hedonism & where did it originate from?
Idea associated with Bentham:
- each situation is different so must be calculated afresh
- no universal moral norms or rules (relativist)
- applies hedonic calculus to each ‘act’ to see if it fulfills the ‘principal of utility’
- actions are right if they produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number
- considers the consequences of an action
+ the view that pleasure is the chief good
+ came from Plato & Aristotle who argued ‘good’ equated with the greatest happiness
What is Bentham’s hedonic calculus?
+ what are the 7 elements (DR PEPCI)
Measurement of happiness (pleasure-pain) & the seven elements that must be considered when calculating the amount of happiness
1) Intensity: stronger=better e.g eating nice food
2) Duration: longer-lasting=better (link to Egoism)
3) Certainty:
4) Extent: more people=better e.g pilgrimage
5) Propinquity: nearer to you=better
6) Richness: more chance of repetition=better
7) Purity: least amount of pain=better
What does Bentham think about happiness?
+ Bentham quotes
- Pleasure & the absence of pain
- there is no hierarchy of the different types of happiness
- our two sovereign masters are pleasure & pain
- empirical observation shows we desire pleasure & seek to avoid pain
+ “happiness… is the supreme ethical value”
+“an act is ‘right’ if it delivers more pleasure than pain”
+ “greatest happiness of the greatest number”
+ “create all the happiness you are able to create”
+ “actions are right in proportion when they tend to promote happiness”
Who was John Stuart Mill?
- philosopher, political economist, civil servant & MP
- developed Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism
- focused more on quality of pleasure not quantity
- greatly influenced by Aristotle & resonated with the idea of eudaimonia
What is Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism?
+ developed from Act Utilitarianism
+ concentrates on quality of pleasure
+ The community must follow agreed rules for it to work e.g Ten Commandments or laws
+ a pleasure should not be pursued if it causes harm to anyone
+ there are two types of pleasure:
- higher pleasure (pleasures of mind e.g reading and music)
- lower pleasure (pleasures of body e.g sex and eating)
Key Quotes from Mill on higher and lower pleasures & the Harm Principle
“some kinds of pleasures are more desirable and valuable than others”
“it would be absurd that quality not be considered as well as quantity”
“it is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”
“over his on body and mind, the individual is sovereign”
What is strong rule Utilitarianism?
+ what is weak rule Utilitarianism?
the view that rules should be stuck to no matter what the situation is
+ the view that rules can be broken if it maximises the happiness to do so
What are the weaknesses of Act Utilitarianism?
+ how does Rule Utilitarianism combat this?
1) The Hedonic Calculus is too difficult to apply to every situation
+ RU uses universal rules which are easy to apply
2) Could allow for things such as gangrape or bullying
+ RU careers about quality of happiness and includes the Harm Principle
How can Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus be applied to animal testing?
- Intensity: level of pain experienced by animals during testing vs potential benefits to humans
- Certainty: assess certainty of achieving beneficial outcomes vs causing harm
- Extent: consider number of people affected by the action
- Purity: consider if animal testing may lead to unforseen negative circumstances
How can Bentham’s Principle of Utility be applied to animal testing? (quote?)
+ How can Act Utilitarianism as a form of moral relativism, consequentialist & Teleological be applied to animal testing?
- net balance of benefits & harm
- humans life will always take priority over animals
(“the question isn’t can they talk, but can they suffer?”)
+ MR: different cultures have different beliefs on animal testing
+ C: potential benefits may outweigh harm
+ T: ultimate goal is to develop lifesaving treatments which justifies the use of animals
How can Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism be applied to animal testing?
+ what may critics argue?
1) Higher & Lower Pleasures
- potential for saving humans lives represents a higher pleasure so justifies suffering
+ animal rights should always be considered
2) Harm Principle
- harm may be outweighed by the benefits
+ animal rights should never be violated
3) Rules formulated on ‘greatest happiness’ principle
- be examining the consequences of our actions & rules, we can try to balance humans welfare w respect for animal rights to pursue the ‘greatest happiness’
How can Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus be applied to holding nuclear weapons as a deterrent?
- Intensity: if used the potential pain & suffering is immense but (this may be avoided if they are held but not used)
- Duration: effects of nuclear weapons can be long lasting & fear and uncertainty can affect wellbeing
- Certainty: certainty of devestating consequences of their use can create fear & global insecurity
How can Bentham’s Principle of Utility be applied to holding nuclear weapons as a deterrent?
+ How can Act Utilitarianism as a form of moral relativism, consequentialist & Teleological be applied to holding nuclear weapons as a deterrent?
Maximising overall happiness for the greatest number involves careful consideration of long-term consequences & risks
+ MR: “greatest happiness for the greatest number”
+ C: may justify posession of NW as they may prevent large-scale conflict
+ T: maintaining peace & security justifies posession (critics say risks and ethical dilemmas may contradict this)
How can Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism be applied to holding nuclear weapons as a deterrent?
1) Higher & Lower Pleasures:
- importance of prioritising higher pleasures e.g peace & security & preservation of life over immediate and potentially destructive actions
2) Harm Principle:
- may deter potential aggressors & prevent harm in short term
- long-term risks of catastrophic effects of their use must also be considered
3) Rules formulated on ‘greatest happiness’ principle:
- consequences of having weapons outweigh benefits
- pursuit of peace & security for the majority should guide decision making regarding possession
Key Quotes in support or Utilitarianism
“When happiness is present, we have everything; but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it” (Epicurus)
“It is vain to talk of the interest of the community without understanding what is the interest of the individual” (Bentham)
“The devestating possibilities of nuclear war have helped to maintain strategic stability” (Fallon)
“Certain pleasures entails disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves” (Epicurus)
“Power can be rightfully exercised… to prevent harm to others” (Mill)
“To discriminate against beings based solely on account of their species is a form of prejudice” (Singer)
Strengths of Utilitarianism
+ happiness is instrinsically good
+ promotes the greatest good
+ quality of pleasure considered (Mill)
+ secular & universal
+ easy to use
+ democratic
+ objective
Weaknesses of Utilitarianism
- happiness is not the only intrinsic good
- unpredictable consequences
- immeasurable
- people cannot be trusted
- allows sacrifice of individuals for greater good which is unjust
- subjective as to what happiness is
- tyranny of the majority (may confuse what is popular w what is right)
