Utilitarianism key terms

Hedonism

pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life

Teleological

ethical theories that evaluate the moral status of actions based on their outcomes or consequences.

consequentialism

is the ethical theory that posits that the morality of an action is determined purely by its consequences

principle of utility

is a fundamental concept in utilitarianism which suggests that actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

relativist

there are no moral absolutes and every judgement is relative to such things as culture and circumstance

the hedonic calculus

is a method proposed by Bentham to quantify the pleasure and pain generated by actions, helping to evaluate their overall utility.

classical utilitarianism

is a form of utilitarianism developed by Jeremy Bentham and later expanded by John Stuart Mill, focusing on the consequences of actions to maximize overall happiness.

higher and lower pleasures

differentiates between the value of higher pleasures such as ones that are more cognitive or intellectual in nature, and lower pleasures, which are more physical or sensual

competent judge

is an individual who has the ability to assess and evaluate pleasures based on experience, allowing for the comparison of higher and lower pleasures.

universalizability

core concept of Kants: that moral principles must apply universally to all rational beings and should not depend on individual circumstances.

strong rule utilitarianism vs weak rule utilitarianism

Strong rule utilitarianism advocates for following rules that generally promote the greatest happiness, while weak rule utilitarianism allows for exceptions to these rules in special circumstances if it maximizes overall utility.

‘rule of thumb’

a general principle that is used to guide behaviour or decision-making, based on practical experience rather than a strict rule.

act or omission

act - voluntary action, omission - failure to act when there is a duty to do so.

ethical naturalism

ethical truths can be derived from natural properties and facts, asserting that moral statements are based on empirical sciences.

qualitative

quality of pleasure

quantitative

measures the amount of pleasure

deontological

moral theory focused on rules and duties rather than consequences.

normative ethical theories

focused on establishing moral standards

Maximisation principle

the idea that actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

egoism

an ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality. It suggests that actions are right if they promote one's own good.

moral agent

an individual capable of making ethical decisions and understanding moral principles.

pre-calculated rules

sets of guidelines or principles that determine the ethicality of actions based on expected outcomes, often used in utilitarian decision-making.

synonymous

with a concept or term, meaning they have the same or very similar meaning.

naturalistic fallacy

the incorrect assumption that what is natural is inherently good or right. It often conflates moral judgments with natural phenomena.

utility

tendency to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good or happiness and avoids mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness

the (no) harm priniciple

Mill- the only legitimate reason for restricting an individual's liberty is to prevent harm to others

egalitarian

all people are equal and deserve equal consideration

preferentialism

contrasts with hedonism that suggests pleasure is the only value, but instead claims individual preferences are more valuable

personhood

the status of being a person, which involves moral and legal rights and considerations in ethical discussions.

special circumstances

conditions that may alter the moral evaluation of an action