Utilitarianism (Part 1) - Louis J. Pojman

Flashcards covering key concepts, figures, and principles of Utilitarianism, including its distinctions from deontological ethics, Bentham's hedonism, Mill's eudaimonism, and the problem of knowing consequences based on excerpts from Louis J. Pojman's 'How Should We Live: An Introduction to Ethics'.

What is the primary characteristic of deontological ethics?

The locus of value is the act itself or the kind of act, based on duty, meaning certain acts have intrinsic value.

How does teleological ethics (or consequentialist ethics) determine the moral value of an act?

The locus of value is the outcome or consequences of the act, aiming to maximize nonmoral goods like pleasure or happiness.

How would a teleologist judge the morality of lying, in contrast to a deontologist?

A teleologist would judge lying based on the consequences it produces, considering it wrong only if it leads to bad outcomes. A deontologist would view lying as intrinsically wrong, regardless of consequences.

Which philosophers are considered the main figures in the classical stage of utilitarianism?

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

What was the utilitarian view on legal and moral reform in 18th- and 19th-century Great Britain?

They sought to make law and morality serve human needs and interests, rather than adhering to outworn rule-bound deontological rules, focusing on ameliorating suffering and promoting happiness.

How does the utilitarian view of punishment differ from the deontological view?

Deontologists believe in retribution, punishing the guilty in proportion to their crime. Utilitarians believe punishment should only serve a deterrent or preventive purpose, aiming to do the most good or least harm to all affected.

What are the two main features of utilitarianism?

The consequentialist principle (teleological aspect) and the utility principle (hedonic aspect).

What does the consequentialist principle of utilitarianism state?

The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined solely by the goodness or badness of the results that flow from it, meaning 'the end justifies the means'.

What does the utility principle of utilitarianism state?

The only thing that is good in itself is some specific type of state, such as pleasure, happiness, or welfare.

What is hedonistic utilitarianism?

A version of utilitarianism that views pleasure as the sole good and pain as the only evil.

What is Bentham's hedonic calculus, and what was its purpose?

It is a scheme for quantitatively measuring pleasure and pain based on seven aspects (intensity, duration, certainty, nearness, fruitfulness, purity, and extent) to decide which act to perform by comparing scores.

What were some criticisms leveled against Bentham's version of utilitarianism?

It was considered too simplistic because there are other values than pleasure, and too complicated due to problems in assigning scores to variables in the hedonic calculus, leading to the 'pig philosophy' objection.

Why did John Stuart Mill develop his version of utilitarianism?

To address criticisms of Bentham's utilitarianism, particularly the 'pig philosophy' charge, by distinguishing happiness from mere sensual pleasure.

What is eudaimonistic utilitarianism, as proposed by John Stuart Mill?

A version of utilitarianism that defines happiness in terms of higher-order pleasures or satisfactions, such as intellectual, aesthetic, and social enjoyments, alongside minimal suffering.

According to Mill, what are the two types of pleasures, and which is superior?

Lower (elementary) pleasures like eating and drinking, and higher pleasures like intellectuality and creativity. Mill argued that higher, more refined pleasures are superior.

What was Mill's famous quote illustrating the superiority of higher pleasures?

'It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.'

What is a major challenge for utilitarianism regarding the consequences of actions?

The difficulty of knowing the long-term or actual consequences of actions, as life is complex and consequences extend indefinitely, making calculation impossible.

According to C.I. Lewis, what are the three kinds of consequences utilitarians distinguish?

1) Actual consequences (leading to an 'absolutely right' act), 2) Consequences that could reasonably have been expected to occur (leading to an 'objectively right' act), and 3) Intended consequences (leading to a 'subjectively right' act).

In the context of the Hitler's grandmother example, what is the difference between an 'absolutely right' and an 'objectively right' action?

An 'absolutely right' act would be letting infant Adolf die because history would have turned out better. An 'objectively right' act, which Hitler's grandmother performed, was saving the baby's life, as it was what any reasonable person would expect to produce the best results without knowledge of the future.