Act Utilitarianism

define utilitarian theories

only happiness is good, and the right act is the acts which maximises happiness

define utility

the property of an object or action in virtue of which it tends to produce happiness

define the principle of utility

the defining principle of act utilitarianism;

a principle that approves or disapproves of every action, according to tendency it has the ability to augment or diminish the happiness of those in question

what does Bentham say about maximising utility

morality is about maximising utility so the right consequences cause the greatest amount of happiness to greatest amount of people

define psychological hedonism

assumption that we (humans) are motivated by 2 soverign masters; pleasure and pain

why is the issue of impossible to apply an issue of Bentham’s theory?

it means it;

* too time-consuming
* can’t predict the future
* can’t know if others will feel pleasure or pain

why is the issue of overlooking important issues an issue of bentham’s theory?

it means it overlooks;

* duties
* rights/justice
* special relations

what makes Bentham’s utilitarianism a consequentialist theory?

an action is right or wrong b/c of the consquences it produces

what makes Bentham’s utilitarianism a teleological theory?

it is based on consequences the same way ‘teleos’ means purpose or end

how does Bentham’s utilitarianism choose which action should be taken?

if pleasure follows action A rather than action B, it is morally right to choose more pleasure which would mean following action A

what is the difference between relativist and absolute theories?

relativist - no right or wrong fixed answer

absolute - right or wrong fixed answer

why is Bentham’s utilitarianism relativist not absolute

Bentham doesn’t believe certain actions will ALLWAYS be morally wrong irrespective of context

what do absolutists believe about tourture?

the act of tourtue is absolutely wrong in all cases and situations

why cannot bentham be an absolutist?

b/c he dosen’t view pain involved with tortue as not leading to greater pleasure

what does Bentham utilitarianism believe in?

an action is right or wrong depends on the relative situation in which the action takes place

what does it mean for Bentham’s utilitranism to be maximising?

some actions that lead to pleasure will not be morally good acts if another action could produce more pleasure

what is an example of maximising Bentham’s utilitarnism?

if you gain pleasure from spending money on a boat but you could be spending that money on a charity helping homelessness that would produce more pleasure.

so it is morally wrong to do action A as it doesn’t maximise total pleasure

how is benthams utilitaranism impartial?

in the sense that what matters is simply securing that maximum amount of pleasure for the max amount of peopl

what does Benthams utilitranism not do?

it does not give special preference regarding which people have access to total pleasure

why is benthams utilitranism assosiated with ‘equal considereation of interests’?

as long as total pleasure mazimised then it doesn’t matter who pleasure is expereienced by

overall utilitranism is a C_, T_ theory

utiliranism focuses on P_ which impacts the M_ people, and is morally R_

benthams utilitarianism is R_, M_ and i_, associated with equal consideration of i_

benthams utilitarianism must achieve the M_ amount of pleasure to the max amount of P_

and certain actions which achieve this may not be thought of as M_ W_

overall utilitranism is a CONSEQUANTIST, TELEOGICAL theory

utiliranism focuses on PLEASURE which impacts the MAXIMUM people, and is morally RIGHT

benthams utilitarianism is RELATIVE , MAXIMISING and IMPARTIAL, associated with equal consideration of INTERESTS

benthams utilitarianism must achieve the MAXIMUM amount of pleasure to the max amount of PEOPLE

and certain actions which achieve this may not be thought of as MORALLY WRONG

benthams psychological hedonism says…

humans are selfish beasts, and selfishness is good if it produces more pleasure

what does Bentham say about 2 soverign masters?

nature has placed mankind under 2 soverign masters; pleasure and pain

they govern us in all we do, and we serve to demonstrate this

explain what bentham means by 2 soverign masters?

anything other than pleasure and pain is not a valid reason to do an action

and no matter what we do to disprove this then all we do is futher prove it

what is the priciple of utlity?

the principle is meant by rules that approve or disapproves of every action, to increase or lessen pleasure or pain

what does utility mean?

utility is the property of an object or action in virtue of which it tends to produce happiness

what does Bentham say about community?

the interest in the community meaning is lost, and the community is a fictitious body composed of individuals thought of as being its members

why is the principle of utility important according to bentham?

people are biased to their own rules and they are biased to benefit themseleves so the principle is supposed to create equality in choosing actions

why is bentham an act utilitarian?

b/c he developed a moral theory that measures the worth of an action

what is benthams psychological hedonism?

bentham believes all our actions are aimed at obtaining pleasure and avioding pain

‘nature has placed mankind under 2 soverign masters; pleasure and pain’

the priciple of utility = rules that approve/disapprove of every action to increase/lessen pleasure

utility is meant by the property of an object or action in virtue of which it tends to produce happiness

the interest of the community is lost = ficitious body

what is the equation of moral happiness for an act utilitarian?

happiness = pleasure - pain

how does bentham take a Q_ approach to happiness?

QUANTITATIVE - his felific calculus/ hedonic calculus

briefly outline the hedonic/felific calculus

1) intensity

2) duration

3) certainty

4) remotness

5) fecundity

6) purity

7) extent

explain the first 4 steps of benthams hedconic calculus

these relate to the individual and how likely they are the revieve pleasure or pain

explain steps 5 and 6 of bentham’s hedonic calculus

these relate to the action itself and the ability/tendancy to produce more pleasure or pain

explain step 7 in benthams hedonic calculus

this relates to how the action will impact other people’s pleasure or pain