Act Utilitarianism

What was the first form of utilitarianism?

Act utilitarianism

Who founded act utilitarianism?

Jeremy Bentham

What type of morality did Bentham want his utilitarianism to reflect?

An atheistic understanding of what it means to be human

What are the two “sovereign masters”

Pleasure and Pain

What does Bentham say is human nature to pursue?

Find pleasure and avoid pain

What is the principle of Utility?

An action is good if it leads to the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

What type of ethical theory is utilitarianism?

Consequentialist ethical theory

How does Bentham say we should figure out what action leads to the greatest pleasure?

The hedonic calculus

How many criteria’s are there in the hedonic calculus?

7

What are 2 examples of criteria’s in the hedonic calculus?

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1. Intensity
2. Duration
3. Certainty
4. Propinquity
5. Fecundity
6. Purity
7. Extent