Utilitarianism AO2

“The extent to which Rule Utilitarianism provides a better basis for making moral decisions than Act Utilitarianism” - problems with Act

• We are not omniscient

• Can 't predict the future

• Some actions that are painful can result in pleasure

“The extent to which Rule Utilitarianism provides a better basis for making moral decisions than Act Utilitarianism” - strengths of Rule

• provides guidance for situations

• promotes equality/justice

• lead to trusting society

“The extent to which Rule Utilitarianism provides a better basis for making moral decisions than Act Utilitarianism” - problems with Rule

• can lead to immoral acts

• makes no allowances for personal relationships

• too simplistic

“The degree to which pleasure can be seen as the sole intrinsic good” - positives

• Compatible with Christianity (Jesus' Golden Rule)

• Important to many people and easy to measure (Hedonic Calculus)

• Not selfish for the community (Harm Principle and Principle of Utility)

“The degree to which pleasure can be seen as the sole intrinsic good” - against

• Pleasure is subjective e.g. Sadistic Prison Guard

• Minority can suffer

• Love and a relationship with God is more important

“The extent to which Utilitarianism works in contemporary society” - positives

• encourages democracy (principle of utility)

• it is consequentialist so shows only the consequence has any real effect, not motive

• easy to calculate (Hedonic Calculus)

“The extent to which Utilitarianism works in contemporary society” - negatives

• Minorities can suffer

• Happiness is subjective

• Not omniscient- can't predict consequences

• Impractical in emergencies - time consuming

“Whether Utilitarianism promotes immoral behaviour” - arguments for

• rejects moral absolutes (10 commandments)

• happiness is subjective (sadistic prison guard)

• minorities can suffer (principle of utility)

• can lead to immoral acts (weak rule)

“Whether Utilitarianism promotes immoral behaviour” - arguments against

• situational (principle of utility)

• fair and democratic (do greatest happiness for the greatest number)

• promotes equality (strong rule)

“The extent to which Utilitarianism promotes justice” - arguments for

• relativistic - allows exceptions

• teleological means happiness is equal (pushpin and poetry)

• fair and democratic (principle of utility)

• protects exploitation of minorities (harm principle)

“The extent to which Utilitarianism promotes justice” - arguments against

• can lead to immorality

• happiness is subjective

• minority suffer

“The extent to which utilitarianism provides a practical basis for making moral decisions for both religious believers and non-believers” - positives

• both value happiness

• Mill's teaching is close to Jesus' Golden Rule Strong Rule

• is compatible with 10 commandments (agree on some moral issues e.g. divorce)

• Jesus' death is an example of the principle of utility

“the extent to which utilitarianism provides a practical basis for making moral decisions for both religious believers and non-believers” - negatives

• God is the ultimate source of moral obligation, not happiness

• Wouldn't accept suffering of minority

• Some believe things are intrinsically wrong regardless of the consequences