Study Notes on Exam Prep and Utilitarianism

Initial date for the exam was set for the third but has been changed to the fifth (Thursday).
Review day is scheduled after the completion of content on utilitarianism.
Last content to be discussed is utilitarianism, then a review session on the following Tuesday.
Students should come prepared with questions for the review session.

No unexpected items on the exam; students should know exactly what to expect.
Students advised to review the list of questions provided beforehand.
Suggested study strategy: Prepare answers to all questions and choose a minimum of five to ten questions to focus on.
Essay portion: Students will select two of the five given topics and write 3-4 pages on each.
Time management suggested:
- Five to ten minutes for simple definitions.
- Rest of the time divided in half for essay questions.

Assessing the length by word count can vary significantly between individuals.
Average word count for typed responses reported to be between 500 to 700 words from students utilizing the SAS service.

Emphasis on answering all sub-questions thoroughly.
Preferred writing instruments: No strict preference, but pencils allow for easier corrections.
Questions regarding midterms: The exam is after the break due to scheduling changes.
Spelling and grammar addressed; major focus on legibility rather than perfection.

Understand key terminology and jargon.
Advice on writing: Use spaces effectively and develop a flowchart for organizing answers.
Utilize outline-style responses to ensure clarity and coherence.

Week dedicated to studying utilitarianism.
Important philosophers discussed:
- Jeremy Bentham: 18th-century philosopher, associated with utilitarian ethics.
- John Stuart Mill: Known for his contributions in the 19th century, improves upon Bentham's ideas.

Utilitarianism as part of the modernization movement.
Shift away from supernatural explanations to scientific understandings.
Empiricism defined: Knowledge derived from sensory experience.
Exclusions of the metaphysical and a priori concepts from empirical understanding.

The philosophical shift towards a naturalistic view of goodness; away from supernatural reasoning.
David Hume's arguments on morality revolve around human sentiments and feelings.
Bentham's distinction between feelings (sympathy, antipathy) and measurable pleasure.
The question of what constitutes 'pleasure' remains central to the analysis of utilitarianism.

Bentham: All pleasures are equivalent, emphasizing desire satisfaction.
Mill: Differentiates between higher (intellectual) and lower (bodily) pleasures, prioritizes the former.

Utilitarianism emerged as a significant ethical theory during the 19th century.
Bentham's social reform advocacy spanned various systems including justice, education, and government.
Notable contributions to penal reform emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment.

The principle that actions should maximize utility for the greatest number.
Utilitarianism challenges traditional views of morality centered around rights.
Bentham's assertion: Rights are "nonsense on stilts" compared to the overall happiness.

Issues with measuring pleasure and weighing its importance among individuals.
The concept of “utility monster” – critiques the uneven distribution of pleasure.

Utilitarianism raises questions about moral responsibilities and individual rights versus collective happiness.
The egalitarian nature of utilitarianism stands against traditional hierarchical moral views.
Recommendations for future study emphasize comparability of pleasure and ethical decision-making.