Rule Utilitarianism

how does Mill suggest we can find out if an action is right or wrong?

there are principles in oder to judge an action

how does mill define this principle?

peoples approval/disapproval is influenced by the factors of actions on their happiness.

the principle of utility plays a part in his defintion

how does mill define utility?

utility means what is useful, not pleasurable.

happiness is pleasure in the absence of pain

mill believes in H_ and L_ pleasures

mill believes in HIGHER and LOWER pleasures

why did mill develop higher and lower pleasures?

mill believed the quantity approach was not necessary for utilitarianism

mill argues humans would prefer pleasures of the mind over body

mind is higher, body is lower

what does mill claim about the most superior pleasure?

there the most superior pleasure is one we choose even though it may bring us a higher level is dissatisfaction.

what is an example of higher pleasures?

completing a-levels rather than staying home watching tv

what does mill say about judging pleasures?

someone who experiences both pleasures is the perfect judge to choose higher or lower pleasures.

and most people would choose to keep higher pleasures than to live a beast life

but won’t choosing higher pleasures mean unhappiness?

our life will suffer more, but mill argues that we choose to live in discontent as we cannot give up higher pleasures such as love, pride etc,

these come with having higher faculties which give us dignity and therefore pleasure

what is the quote mill uses for higher and lower pleasures?

it is better to be a human unsatisfied than a pig satisfied

what is a criticism of mills higher and lower pleasures?

utilitarianism looses simplicity by introdcuing qualities

this theory pushes mill away from hedonistic utilitarianism, as an act is said to be better if it creates lower pleasure

how would mill respond to criticisms?

you can argue that higher pleasures are most pleasant when taking into account duration and quality

define conscience

moral motivation is often accompanied by a feeling of duty

what does mill define duty as?

the sense of duty is an ‘internal sanction

the pain we feel when we do not do what we belive we ought to do

what do we do if we have duty?

we must perform an action if we have a duty to do from our conscience

this is the essence of our conscience

explain the essence of our conscience?

the essence of conscience is doing one’s duty whatever it is without regard to any other interests. Doing so avoids the pain we feel when we neglect duties

how does conscience link with utilitarianism?

our conscience does not motivate us to maximise happiness

but this is b/c our conscience is shaped and ‘encrusted’ by cultural expectations

how does conscience link with happiness?

it doesn’t encourage us to maximise happiness as much as it does to follow certain duties like murder

why doesn’t our conscience encourage us to maximise happiness?

human psychology is highly flexible and we could still cultivate our conscience to be associated just as strongly with the greatest happiness

moral M_ means O_

moral MOTIVATION means OBLIGATION

what does moral motivations mean obligations mean?

the importance of moral motivation is a feeling of obligation. we feel the need to not murder or not steal,

but what motivates us to comply with the principle of utility?

we are M_ by E_ or internal S_

we are MOTIVATED by EXTERNAL or internal SANCTIONS

explain what we are motivated by and how it motivates us?

when we do the right thing or avoid disapproval or receive a reward we are motivated by **external sanctions**

**internal sanctions** come from a sense of duty to avoid the pain of knowing we should do morally good actions.

to avoid this pain we do our duty

**interna**l actions are purer than **external**

mill prefers the **internal**

explain how conscience prods us

our conscience doesn’t prod us to maximise happiness in the same way it does us to avoid murder (avoids pain)

but this is due to the way it has been cultivated into us, through experiences - encrusted - with all sorts of experiences

we commit morally good actions to avoid external sanctions

explain how society controls our emotions

society controls our emotions as we have a strong and natural emotions to be in unity with others and we can change and manipulate people's consciences to change.

society shapes our conscience as well as education and external sanctions which overall contrubute to our happiness.

the M_ of duty is the D_ to do good and avoid E_. this is put towards G_ happiness

the MOTIVE of duty is the DUTY to do good and avoid EVIL. this is put towards GENERAL happiness

how does Mill criticise utilitarianism?

utilitarianism violates human rights, and the key to this is justice

outline the 6 ways human rights can be violated?

1) legal rights

2) moral rights

3) not giving someone what they deserve

4) breaking a promise

5) failing to be impartial when requires

6) unequal treatment to people

how does justice relate to actions?

justice relate to actions that harm others who have a right not to be harmed

duties of justice are ‘perfect’ duties and we must always fullfil them as everyone else has the right we should act morally

however ‘imperfect’ duties include acts of giving to charity and the effects to these people don’t effect is as it is more general

what is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties

duties of justice are ‘perfect’ duties and we must always fullfil them as everyone else has the right we should act morally

however ‘imperfect’ duties include acts of giving to charity and the effects to these people don’t effect is as it is more general

when do rights no longer become rights?

if your rights harm others they are no longer rights

someones rights mean they have a claim on it and can ask for protection.

the reason we have proection over this is it’ll contribute to general happiness

the interests that are protected as rights are ‘extraordinaryly important’ we depend on security and proection as this is vital to us and our interests.

how does Mill try prove the greates happiness principle

the only proof that something is desirable is that people desire it.

happiness is good, bc all people desire their own happiness

Mill trys to prove the greatest happiness principle in _ stages;

the first being: H_ is good

the 2nd being: H_ is the O_ thing that is G_

Mill tries to prove the greatest happiness principle in **2** stages;

the first is: HAPPINESS is good

the 2nd is: HAPPINESS is the ONLY thing that is GOOD

explain mills first stage; happiness is good

we aim what is desirable - happiness

happiness is good has 3 parts;

1) something is desirable if people desire it

2) general happiness is desirable bc each person desires their own happiness

3) each person takes their happiness to be good, so adding each persons happiness creates general happiness

outline from mills stage 1, the 3 parts for happiness is good

1) something is desirable if people desire it

2) general happiness is desirable bc each person desires their own happiness

3) each person takes their happiness to be good, so adding each persons happiness creates general happiness

explain mills second stage; happiness is the only good

mill mist argues that everything if value derives its value from the happiness

we have external constitutive means

whatever we desire for its own sake is a part of what happiness is for us. we cannot desire something we don’t think is pleasurable.

as pleasure is the happiness we only desire happiness, meaning it is the only good

what are some general criticisms?

* people don’t have the same desires
* some peoples desires might not produce happiness
* do people desire it do they think they should

what is the first main criticism of Mills greatest happiness principle\`?

fallacy of equivocation

what is equiviocation?

using one word with 2 different meanings

explain the critisicm of the fallacy of equivocation

equivocation = using one word with 2 different meanings (makes arguement invalid)

Moore; Mill equivocates on ‘desirable’

1) worthy of being desirable (good)

2) capable of being desired (what people desire)

Mill has assumed that people desire what is good but hasnt spotted distinct meaning on desirable

how would mill reply to the criticism of the fallacy of equivocation?

what people desire is evidence for what is desriable

what is the second main critcism of Mills greatest happiness principle\`?

the fallcy of composition

explain the fallcy of compostion

Mill infers that bc some part has a property the whole part also has the property;

as everyone desires their own happiness everyone also desires everyone elses happiness

why does Mill’s greatest happiness principle fail according to the fallacy of composition?

people desire many different things. isn’t obvious that everything we desire is a means to happiness

what we desire is apart of our happiness b/c happiness is the statisfaction of desires

we are made happy knowing the truth bc we approve knowledge NOT bc it brings us pleasure

what are the similarities between bentham and mill

* human actions are motivated by pleasure or pain - pleasure and absence of pain are only desirable ends
* actions are right/wrong based on accordance to create happiness

what are the differences between bentham and mill

* B = only considered quantity of pleasure pain. M = both quantity and quality
* B= hedonic calculus M = higher lower
* B = principle of utility to individuals M = principle of utility to how we should live