AQA Ethics- bentham (utilitarianism)

what is psychological hedonism

its a psychological fact that humans do everything to seek pleasure and avoid pain

“nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters: pain and pleasure”

what type of normative theory is utilitarianism

consequentialist: judges right and wrong based on the variety of consequences an action has

relativist: no real set of moral rules, only the principle of utility

teleological: concerned with the end result of an action, telos is bringing pleasure

what is the principle of utility

a moral claim based on psychological hedonism

the most useful ethical norm should be to seek pleasure and avoid pain. an action which produces the greatest good for the greatest number is right

quote about actions being right & wrong

“its the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong”

what should utilitarianism act in accordance to

the sum of the interest of people in the community

what type of principle is the principle of utility

foundational: its used to prove/allow other things, not itself so its not susceptible of proof

what is the hedonic calculus

a way of measuring happiness, measures 7 factors to determine the amount of pleasure an action brings

what 7 things does the hedonic calculus measure

intensity
duration
certainty
remoteness
fecundity
purity
extent

what is remoteness

how soon will someone experience pleasure

what is fecundity

if the action will cause further pleasure

how can Philippa Foot’s trolley problem be applied to utilitarianism

Bentham would say the utilitarian principle would save the 5 people and let the train run over the 1 person. Act utilitarianism: most good for most people, the extent & intensity is higher

how is utilitarianism consistent with religious decision making

• principle of utility aligns with the Golden Rule, “do to others what you would have them do to you”. easy to apply and it’s universal that happiness is good. Richard Chappell: “almost anyone would agree with utilitarianism that suffering is bad and happiness is good, what could be more obvious?”

• embraces equality which aligns with Jesus’ ethics: regards people with the same moral concern as ourselves, Bentham: “everyone counts for one and none counts for more than one”. John Stuart Mill: “to love your neighbour as yourself, constitutes the ideal perfection for utilitarian morality”

• same end goals: goal of Christianity is to get into heaven (infinite happiness) & goal of utilitarianism is pleasure. both aim for happiness but bentham doesn’t believe that there is a heaven so for him only happiness and pain in this life have moral significance

how is utilitarianism inconsistent with religious decision making

• identifies goodness with pleasure which contradicts religious teachings: Christianity teaches selflessness and not to be consequentialist. utilitarianism is focused on the individual, if an action comes from an immoral motive but produces a good outcome then it is still good. Mortimer J Adler: consequentialist ethical systems miss the importance of character & virtue

• ignores justice which is contrary to Jesus’ ethics in the gospel: act utilitarianism seeks the happiness of the majority even at the expense of a few (& justice).