Utilitarianism Flashcards

Flashcards about Utilitarianism, covering its core concepts, thinkers, types, and critiques to aid in exam preparation.

Who are the prominent utilitarian thinkers?

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

According to utilitarianism, what determines if an action is good or bad?

The goodness or badness of an action is based on its usefulness in contributing to the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

What did Bentham and Mill value, and how did they define moral good?

Pleasure and happiness, with moral good defined as the promotion of happiness for the most people, even if it sacrifices some individual rights.

According to utilitarian ethical doctrine, how is the rightness or wrongness of actions determined?

That the rightness and wrongness of actions are determined by their consequences, aiming to increase pleasure and decrease pain for the majority.

Where and when was Jeremy Bentham born?

London, England on February 15, 1748

What did Bentham choose to focus on instead of a legal career?

The philosophical foundations of ethics, morality, and legal theory.

What is Bentham's definition of the principle of utility?

"The greatest happiness of the greatest number."

Did Bentham advocate for individual or universal happiness?

Universal happiness rather than individual happiness.

What was the aim of Bentham's utilitarianism?

To liberate people from oppressive laws and promote moral governance.

What social reforms did Bentham advocate for?

Economic freedom, women's rights, animal rights, and the abolition of slavery, the death penalty, and corporal punishment for children.

Where and when was John Stuart Mill born?

Pentonville, London, United Kingdom on May 20, 1806

Who provided John Stuart Mill with homeschooling?

His father, James Mill, who was a Scotsman and a friend and disciple of Bentham.

Who emerged as a significant figure in Mill's life, profoundly influencing his philosophical and personal evolution?

Harriet Taylor

According to Mill, what results in happiness, and what leads to unhappiness?

Actions leading to intended pleasure result in happiness, while the absence of pleasure leads to unhappiness.

How did Mill disagree with Bentham's single scale of pleasure?

He emphasized qualitative distinctions and higher intellectual pleasures.

How did Mill defend utilitarianism regarding individual rights?

That rights are justified by their contribution to the greatest happiness and may be overridden in extreme circumstances.

Where and when did John Stuart Mill die?

Avignon, France on May 8, 1873

What does utilitarianism assert about the moral worth of an action?

The moral worth of an action is determined by its consequences, specifically by the degree to which it promotes happiness or pleasure and reduces pain or unhappiness.

What is the core principle of utilitarianism?

The morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

According to the principle of utility, how are actions evaluated?

Actions are good to the extent that they promote happiness or pleasure and bad to the extent that they produce unhappiness or pain.

What is the aim of the principle of utility as described by Bentham?

To maximize overall happiness and well-being.

What is the Hedonistic Calculus?

A systematic method used to assess the ethical value of actions by considering their expected outcomes in terms of pleasure and pain.

What did Bentham assert regarding pleasure as a measure of morality?

That pleasure alone could serve as a proper measure of right conduct.

According to Bentham, when is an action considered morally acceptable?

If it yields a surplus of pleasure over pain.

What are the dimensions proposed by Bentham to quantify pleasure and pain?

Intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent of impact.

How did Mill disagree with Bentham's hedonistic calculus?

He argued that it is impossible to accurately quantify pleasure and pain in a given action.

What did Mill prioritize in moral decisions?

Prioritizing the happiness of all individuals over personal happiness.

What statement did Mill make to argue that there is inherent qualitative value in being human that surpasses the pleasures of other creatures?

"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied."

What concept did Mill introduce regarding utilitarianism and happiness?

That the standard of conduct based on utilitarianism should prioritize the happiness of all involved, not just the agent's own happiness.

What does Act Utilitarianism emphasize?

Emphasizes the importance of maximizing happiness in each individual action.

How is ethical behavior determined in Rule Utilitarianism?

Ethical behavior should be determined by identifying the rules that typically lead to the greatest happiness and applying them consistently.

What is a strong appeal of the utilitarian approach in business?

Its cost-benefit nature.

Which goals do managers typically prioritize when conflicting stakeholder claims arise in utilitarian thinking?

Prioritize business owner or shareholder goals associated with corporate profitability over the goals of other groups such as employees or the community.

What is a major critique of Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism justifies morally reprehensible actions if they lead to favorable outcomes.

Overall, what does utilitarianism criticized for failing to adequately address?

It prioritizes aggregate happiness at the expense of ethical considerations for all members of society.