Utilitarianism

Who is considered the founder of Utilitarianism?

Jeremy Bentham.

Who developed Rule Utilitarianism?

John Stuart Mill.

What type of ethical theory is Utilitarianism?

A teleological and consequentialist ethical theory.

What is the Principle of Utility?

Actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

What is consequentialism?

The view that the morality of an action depends on its consequences.

What is utility?

The amount of happiness or pleasure produced by an action.

How did Bentham define happiness?

Pleasure and the absence of pain.

What is Psychological Hedonism?

The claim that humans naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain.

What is Ethical Hedonism?

The claim that pleasure is the highest moral good.

What is Act Utilitarianism?

Judging each individual action by whether it maximises happiness.

What is Rule Utilitarianism?

Following rules that generally produce the greatest happiness.

What is Bentham's Hedonic Calculus?

A method for measuring pleasure and pain to determine the best action.

What are the seven criteria of the Hedonic Calculus?

Intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent.

What is intensity?

The strength of the pleasure or pain.

What is duration?

The length of time the pleasure or pain lasts.

What is certainty?

The likelihood of the pleasure or pain occurring.

What is propinquity?

How soon the pleasure or pain will occur.

What is fecundity?

The likelihood that pleasure will lead to more pleasure.

What is purity?

The likelihood that pleasure will not be followed by pain.

What is extent?

The number of people affected.

What did Bentham mean by "pushpin is as good as poetry"?

All pleasures are equal in quality and differ only quantitatively.

Why did Mill criticise Bentham?

He believed some pleasures are qualitatively superior to others.

What are higher pleasures according to Mill?

Intellectual, moral, and cultural pleasures.

What are lower pleasures according to Mill?

Physical and bodily pleasures.

What is Mill's competence test?

Those who have experienced both types of pleasure consistently prefer higher pleasures.

What famous quotation summarises Mill's view?

"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied."

How does Rule Utilitarianism differ from Act Utilitarianism?

It evaluates rules rather than individual actions.

Why did Mill favour rules?

Rules generally promote long-term happiness and social stability.

What is Strong Rule Utilitarianism?

Rules should never be broken.

What is Weak Rule Utilitarianism?

Rules may be broken when doing so produces greater utility.

What is preference utilitarianism?

A form of utilitarianism that seeks to satisfy preferences rather than maximise pleasure.

Who developed preference utilitarianism?

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What is Singer's Principle of Equal Consideration of Interests?

Similar interests should be given equal weight regardless of who possesses them.

How does Singer challenge speciesism?

He argues that the interests of animals should be considered alongside human interests.

What is speciesism?

Discrimination in favour of one's own species.

What is act preference utilitarianism?

Judging actions by how well they satisfy preferences.

What is one strength of Utilitarianism?

It is flexible and considers the consequences of actions.

What is one strength of Utilitarianism according to Bentham?

Every person's happiness counts equally.

What is one strength of Rule Utilitarianism?

It can protect rights and social trust.

What criticism did Kant make of Utilitarianism?

It treats people as a means to an end.

What criticism did Bernard Williams make?

It ignores personal integrity and individual commitments.

What criticism concerns justice?

The happiness of the majority may override minority rights.

What criticism concerns prediction?

Consequences are often difficult to calculate accurately.

How does Utilitarianism approach euthanasia?

It depends on whether euthanasia maximises overall wellbeing.

How does Utilitarianism approach business ethics?

It supports actions that produce the greatest overall benefit for stakeholders.

How does Utilitarianism differ from Natural Law?

It focuses on consequences rather than objective moral rules.

How does Utilitarianism differ from Kantian Ethics?

It judges outcomes rather than duties.

How does Utilitarianism differ from Situation Ethics?

It seeks maximum happiness rather than maximum agape.

Who criticised utilitarianism for sacrificing justice?

John Rawls.

What is Rawls' criticism of utilitarianism?

It may justify unfair treatment of minorities for the benefit of the majority.

Who criticised utilitarianism for ignoring integrity?

Bernard Williams.

What is Williams' integrity objection?

Utilitarianism can require people to act against their deepest moral convictions.

Who defended utilitarianism through preference satisfaction?

Peter Singer.

Why is Singer important for OCR Ethics?

He develops utilitarianism beyond pleasure and applies it to practical ethical issues such as euthanasia and animal rights.