utilitarianism

Question 1

teleological

Answer 1

goodness is determined by the outcome of an action

Question 1

hedonism

Answer 1

pleasure is the true good that should be pursued

Question 2

what are humans motivated by

Answer 2

pleasure and pain which presents a simple moral rule to us

Question 3

utility principle

Answer 3

should do whatever is useful in terms of increasing overall good and decreasing evil

Question 4

hedonic calculus

Answer 4

• intensity
• duration
• certainty
• propinquity (how close pleasure is)
• fecundity (probability of further pleasure)
• purity
• extent

Question 5

what is intensity in the HC

Answer 5

how strong the pleasure or pain is involved

Question 6

what is duration in HC

Answer 6

how long the pleasure or pain will last

Question 7

what is certainty in HC

Answer 7

How sure are we that pleasure or pain will occur

Question 8

what is propinquity in HC

Answer 8

how soon will pleasure or pain occur

Question 9

what is fecundity in HC

Answer 9

How likely pleasure will lead to further pleasure

Question 10

what is purity in HC

Answer 10

how likely is it that pain will result from original pleasure

Question 11

what is extent in HC

Answer 11

how many people are affected?

Question 12

how do we ensure we consider long term consequence

Answer 12

-considering pain and pleasure
-fecundity and duration

Question 13

what is the swine ethic objection

Answer 13

• it treats us as if we were pigs and assume we value each pleasure identically
• it could support gang rape

Question 14

how is bentham’s utilitarianism quantative

Answer 14

suggests we can coldly calculate the pleasures and pain involved in each situation

Question 15

mill- higher pleasures

Answer 15

intellectual and social pleasures only humans can enjoy- art, conversation

Question 16

mill- lower pleasures

Answer 16

pleasures of the body that humans and other creatures can enjoy - sleep, food, sex

Question 17

how does mill rescue against the gang rape example

Answer 17

those who have experienced both type of pleasures will argue that higher pleasures are more important
- racists experience lower pleasure that couldn’t outweigh trauma and pain caused

Question 18

non harm principle
what does this avoid?

Answer 18

-individuals are free to do whatever as long as they don’t harm others (only reason gov should get involved)
-avoids tyranny of the majority

Question 19

utilitarianism is helpful for decisions

Answer 19

• straightforward
• difficult to object to principle of happiness
• secular and doesn’t rely on god
• democratic- counts everyone equally (family aren’t worth more)

Question 20

utilitarianism isn’t helpful for decisions- arguments

Answer 20

• application of it isn’t straightforward- HC
• not always obvious to predict what will happen
• leads to poor treatment for minorities ‘greatest good for greatest number’
• difficult to measure pain and pleasure
• disregards moral agency- choosing between saving ten lives and killing one is still difficult - we have to live with ourselves

Question 21

act utilitarianism

Answer 21

-we should always perform the act that leads to the greatest balance of good over evil
-case by case basis

Question 22

rule utilitarianism

Answer 22

we should always follow the rule that generally leads to the greatest balance of good over evil for society rather than the individual

Question 23

why can rules change for rule utilitarianism

Answer 23

the rules aren’t focused and basis is entirely on greatest good or happiness
so if society changes so do rules

Question 24

strong utilitarianism

Answer 24

once we have decided rules that lead to the greatest good they are fixed and can't ever change

Question 25

weak utilitarianism

Answer 25

rules towards greatest good should generally be followed, may be exceptional cases make allowances for exceptions

Question 26

why does mill think we can predict outcomes?

Answer 26

past experience of humans allows us to know tendencies

Question 27

what seems to be mill's broad position and why

Answer 27

weak rule utilitarianism - principles of liberty and non harm - aware of kant's murderer problem and thinks its best to lie then

Question 28

act utilitarianism is better- arguments

Answer 28

- case by case, flexible - rule utilitarianism- diff rules and principles can clash - rule is incoherent, especially weak as it ends up collapsing into act utilitarianism anyway with more exceptions

Question 29

rule utilitarianism is better- arguments

Answer 29

- quicker approach - act- takes long time to weigh up all factors - allows us to make rules that uphold justice and rights (can be lost in act) mcClosky example- sheriff arrests innocent man- allowed by act but not by rule as persistent unjust acts would undermine justice itself

Question 30

Mill- we can measure pleasure

Answer 30

- to know what is good and desirble- look at what people actually desire -people do seek pleasure and happiness and pursue it as an end -everything else in life that's desirable only is because it contributes to the goal of happiness

Question 31

mill's analogy for why we can measure pleasure how do people criticise this

Answer 31

if we want to know what is/isn't visible we can only [prove this by asking what can be seen same as we can resolve what is desirable by asking what people actually desire but... what people desire can be described but doesn't assert the desires are good

Question 32

what is the distribution problem and its conclusion

Answer 32

-If decision A leads person X to be happier by 10 hedons and Y and Z by 1 each -But decision B leads to 4 hedons each -these are v diff outcomes but generate same overall happiness It is impossible to measure pleasure and pain

Question 33

pleasure, happiness, goodness can be measured- arguments

Answer 33

-observe what people desire then have some measure of whether they are achieveing those desires - preference versions of utilitarianism- overall happiness lies in preference satisfaction and through surveys can find relative happiness rather than counting - neuroscience is advancing- may be able to observe what happens in brain during key moments

Question 34

pleasure, happiness, goodness can't be measured

Answer 34

- no obvious units for pleasure and pain like time (hrs, mins, secs) or mass (g) which are quantifiable - they are subjective- diff pain scales and enjoy diff things- if utilitarianism could succeed would have to be preference - assuming they can be measured requires simple version of utilitarianism- but mill is right about higher and lower pleasures- should higher be worth more? - nozick's experience machine and Moore's open question argument- if we could measure pleasure, we aren't necessarily measuring the good

Question 35

what is nozick's experience machine

Answer 35

-Neuropsychologists can stimulate your brain to simulate a perfect life—achieving goals, experiencing love, and feeling happiness—while you are actually inert. -most would decline- we value actually doing things -If a life of guaranteed pleasure is rejected in favor of an uncertain, painful reality, then pleasure is not the only thing that matters.

Question 36

preference utilitarianism- singer

Answer 36

people should be allowed to pursue their preferences as long as tis doesn't interfere with anyone elses happiness

Question 37

what is the morally good thing to do in preference utilitarianism?

Answer 37

what maximises the satisfaction of your preferences and interests of the most people have to imagine ourselves as 'impartial observers' and consider what each individual would want

Question 38

singer- animal rights

Answer 38

many species satisfy criteria to be described as persons although they can't articulate preferences we can consider their interests and assume their desires lack of communication doesn't stop us from acting in their interests

Question 39

adv of preference utilitarianism

Answer 39

easier to measure allows individuals to pursue their own interests and not be restricted by majorityy avoids 'tyranny of majority'

Question 40

utility is a good basis for making moral decisions- arguments

Answer 40

- utilitarianism has been progressive- used to decriminalise homosexuality, ban slavery - gives a decision procedure. kantianism can clash, way of solving dilemmas - offers pragmatism- works in real world

Question 41

utility is a poor basis for making moral judgements- arguments

Answer 41

- nozick experience machine- utility as pleasure- not most important -if utility= preference satisfaction its unclear whose preferences do or don't count- infants, dogs - preference satisfaction isn't easily quantifiable- goes against spirit of utilitarianism - utility is too demanding. greater happiness is achieved by giving money to poor. by that logic- buying a coffee or treat is morally wrong - other motivations represent better moral motivation