Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Who founded Utilitarianism in what work and date? Society at the time it was founded? Name the three key parts |
Jeremy Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1789 French revolution, begs for more human rights/democracy 1) Principle of utility 2) Hedonic Calculus 3) Human's motivations |
|
|
Motivation of Human Beings? |
We are hedonists, motivated by pain and pleasure "Nature has placed mankind..." Pleasure was sole good and pain was pure evil. This determines right from wrong |
|
|
Principle of Utility? |
Morality of an action based on utility - amount of pleasure that is brought about by action, therefore teleological as its concerned w/ the end. "principle which ... augment or diminish..." Democratic as pleasure can't apply to a single indiv. Measured with hedonic calc |
|
|
Hedonic Calculus |
DR FIE-UP Duration Remoteness - How far off? Fecundity - Chance of further pleasures? Intensity - Extent - (Un)certainty - How likely will pleasure be brought about Purity - Chances of further pains? "The balance, if it be on the ... " |
|
|
JSM on UT? What publication? |
Rejects hedonic calculus, instead focused on quality of pleasures; intellectual and lower ones. "Human beings have faculties ... gratification" "piggy quote" "They pursue sensual indulgences to..." UT, 1863 |
|
|
Rule Utilitarianism |
Gen. rules ALL should follow as it leads to best consequence. Rules are made for a reason, humans aren't the best judge. Closely linked with Golden Rule and can be linked with Christianity that way. "It would be unworthy of an intelligent agent not to..." Deontological - more emphasis on rules |
|
|
Act Utilitarianism |
Principle of utility must be applied directly for each situation which leads to greatest good. Teleological as consequences are counted BUT it can justify almost any act even if barbaric "Every law is an infraction of liberty" |
|
|
Preference Utilitarianism |
Accounts for best interests rather than pleasure/pain "judges actions, not by their tendency to maximise pleasure..." "an action contrary to the preference of any being is, unless..." |
|
|
Strengths and weaknesses of JB |
+ Links morality to pursuit of happiness + Flexible and applicable + Benefits majority + In line with democracy + Teaches not to be selfish as in the Bible as it benefits community rather than one - Pete Singer says it's about justice, not pain/pleasure - No proof that usefulness = morality - John Rawls says no 'distinctions between persons' - Allows for barbaric things if needs be. |
|
|
Strengths and weaknesses of JSM |
+ Distinguishes value of certain pleasures - Sidgwick says its hard to distinguish pleasures - Can't really compare the 2 pleasures. Diff between watching a child grow up and eating chocolate |
|
|
Happiness |
The happiest of 1216 children surveyed in 1922 tended to die younger, experiment more in drink/drugs than miserable counterparts. It makes danger look smaller. "Although optimism and positive emotions ... " "The necessity of pursuing happiness [is] the foundation of liberty" |
|
|
End of pain of increase of pleasure |
Karl Popper believes ending pain is more important "no similar call of a man who is doing well anyway" Peter Barron believes the opposite "When Mill called the greatest good ... Greek eudaimonia" |
