Ethical theories (Kant, Bentham and Mill)

These flashcards include utilitarianism, Kant's deontological ethics and Aristotles virtue ethics

What does it mean to be a consequentialist?

It means that you believe the consequences of an action make it either wrong or right

What do utilitarian theories aim to do?

They aim to minimise pain and maximise pleasure

What is act utilitarianism?

Where one should act so as to maximise pleasure and minimise pain in each specific instance

What is rule utilitarianism?

We should follow general rules that maximise pleasure and minimise pain, even if the rules don’t maximise pleasure in every specific instance

What are the three types of utilitarianism?

• Act utilitarianism

• Rule utilitarianism

• Preference utilitarianism

What is preference utilitarianism?

Where one should act to maximise people’s preferences, even if those preferences don’t maximise pleasure and minimise pain

What three claims does Bentham make about act utilitarianism?

• Whether an action is wrong or right depends solely on the consequences

• The only thing that is good is happiness 

• Everyone’s happiness is equal

What is the Felicific calculus?

A way of calculating utility

Name me three factors of the felicific calculus?

(Any of these)

• Intensity

• Duration

• Certainty

• Propinquity

• Fecundity

• Purity

• Extent

What is a criticism of the felicific calculus?

• the felicific calculus is difficult to calculate utility

What is another criticism of the delicious calculus?

• difficulty to quantify each of the 7 variables of the calculus

What is the tyranny of the majority?

Making decisions with the aim of pleasing the most people possible

How does rule utilitarianism criticise the tyranny of the majority (act utilitarianism theory)?

They use the example of relationships to say that they ignore relationships of the person making the decision

What comment does rule utilitarianism make towards act utilitarianism?

• act utilitarianism is too idealistic

• Doesn’t work in practise

Despite utilitarianism being a plausible theory, what does it ignore?

It ignores the intentions behind the action or decision made

Why does Mill reject Bentham’s felicific calculus?

Because mill argues that not all pleasures and pains are of equal value

What does mill argue about lower and higher pleasures?

He argues that people who have experienced more higher pleasures of thoughts, feelings and imagination always prefer them to the lower pleasures of the body

What kind of approach does mill take to happiness?

A qualitative approach

What kind of approach does Bentham take to happiness?

a quantitive approach

What is Nozicks experience machine?

He says to imagine us all being plugged into a virtual reality machine that can simulate the experience of a perfect life

What does act utilitarianism say about the experience machine?

That everyone should enter it because according to them, all that matters is maximising happiness

How does the experience machine create problems for hedonism?

Because through the analogy you realise that there are more important things than maximising happiness and minimising pain

What is your preference utilitarianism?

• a form of utilitarianism

• States that we should focus on maximising people’s preferences

What is hedonism?

The idea that the only thing that matters is maximising happiness

What does rule utilitarianism focus on?

They focus on the consequences of general rules rather than specific actions

What are the rules in rule utilitarianism decided on?

• whether they increase happiness

Whether actions are deemed right or wrong depending on if they are in accordance with the rules

Name 3 points that Kant’s deontological ethics state

• the only thing that is good without qualification is good will

• Good will means to act for the sake of duty

• You have a duty to follow the moral law

How can you tell if a maxim has been universalised?

If it passes the categorical imperative

What two tests does the categorical imperative have?

• contradiction in conception

• Contradiction in will

What is the humanity formula?

Do not treat people as a means to an end

What is good will?

One that acts for the sake of duty, not because they expect a reward

What two types of maxims are there?

• hypothetical

• Categorical

What are categorical rules?

Rules that apply universally

what are hypothetical rules?

Rules qualified by an if statement

What is a contradiction in conception?

It is something that is self explanatory

What is a contradiction in will?

Whether we can rationally will a maxim or not

What are problems for kant’s ethics?

• not all universal maxims are moral

• It ignores consequences

• Conflicts between duties

What does Philipa foot argue?

• She argues that moral laws aren’t categorical like Kant says they are

• She argues instead that morality is a system of hypothetical imperatives