philo - bentham

FUNDAMENTAL AXIOM

it is the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people that is the measurement of right and wrong

bentham ADVOCATED for

individual and economic freedom

separation of church and state

freedom of expression

equal rights for women

right to divorce

decrim of homosexuality

abolition of slavery and physical punishment

human and animal rights

PANOPTICON

concept to allow all PAN (inmates) of a institution to be observed by opticon (single watchman) w/o knowing whether or not being watched

• act as though being watched at all times, learning to control own behaviour

PANOMION

bentham’s ambition to create a complete utilitarian code of law

what is HAPPINESS to bentham?

predominance of pleasure over pain

how do PAIN and PLEASURE affect humankind?

point out what we ought to do

determine what we shall do

standard of right and wrong

chain of cause and effect

bentham stance on RELIGION

OPPOSED

unnecessary as happiness all we need

humans are governed by pain and pleasure

• developed this in book ‘principles or morals’

UTILITY PRINCIPLE

the righteous or wrongness of an action is decided by its usefulness in causing happiness or pleasure

• greatest good for greatest number and minimises pain for greatest number

TROLLEY DILEMMA

philippa foot 1967

variation also of man on bridge

UTILITARIAN VIEW - pull lever as most happiness caused

HEDONIC CALCULATOR

quantitative list to measure how much happiness an act would bring

INTENSITY

DURATION

CERTAINTY

PROPINQUITY/ REMOTENESS - more immediate in space and time, the better

FECUNDITY/ PRODUCTION - pleasure leading to more pleasure = greater value

PURITY - no pain mixed in = greatest

EXTENT = number of people

is utilitarianism teleological or deontological?

TELEOLOGICAL

= considers consequences of ones actions by only doing whats best for majority

S/W of UTILITARIANISM

STRENGTHS

• single, straightforward principle

• how majority of society works - related to ideas of democracy

• humans naturally designed to weigh up consequences of own actions - all have ability to reason so is natural way of making moral decisions

WEAKNESSES

• impossible to predict consequences - flawed

• immoral mindset may still cause greatest happiness regardless of intention - still immoral

• best outcome for majority may lead to slave culture

• not morally preferable to seek pleasure - surely there are higher goods? - JS Mill

making decisions - utilitarianism vs religious

UTILITARIANISM	RELIGION
teleological fundamental axiom hedonic calculus bentham = not religious, religion not necessary for decisions no set rules/ laws - relative based on hedonism - pleasure and pain as instinctive democratic uses human ability to reason	deontological uses scripture/ teaching to be judged righteously in the afterlife based on spirituality w/ the divine in persuit of creating god’s kingdom on earth - attempt to be godly religious faith required god is ultimate authority applies equally to all pray for guidance use ability to reason

similarities between utilitarianism and religion

• both prioritise humans and human wellbeing

• both seek to do good

• reflect on own experience and experiences from history

• both value animals but not as equal to humans