Introduction to Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism

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Questions and Answers

What is a potential issue with focusing solely on maximizing overall happiness?

  • It creates an illusion of happiness among the majority.
  • It may lead to the oppression of minority groups. (correct)
  • It results in less social reform and progress.
  • It encourages individualism over collective well-being.

How did Bentham's ideas influence the legal and social reforms in the 19th century?

  • They sparked debates on the importance of individual rights.
  • They encouraged the elimination of welfare programs.
  • They focused on promoting the greatest happiness for the majority. (correct)
  • They emphasized strict punishment over rehabilitation.

In which areas has Bentham's work had a notable influence?

  • Philosophy and ancient history.
  • Corporate law and environmental policies.
  • Religious studies and ethics of warfare.
  • Criminal justice, public policy, and welfare economics. (correct)

What aspect of Bentham's approach is less prominent in contemporary discussions?

<p>His methods for assessing happiness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are Bentham's foundational ideas still relevant today?

<p>They help in assessing the effectiveness of public policies. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Bentham's utilitarianism?

<p>The consequences of actions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Felicific Calculus consider when evaluating the outcomes of an action?

<p>Factors like intensity, certainty, and extent (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Act Utilitarianism?

<p>It evaluates individual actions for their potential to maximize happiness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bentham's view of hedonism differ from other forms of hedonism?

<p>He believes that pleasure and pain can be measured quantitatively. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common criticism of Bentham's utilitarianism regarding individual rights?

<p>It can justify violating individual rights for the greater good. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major challenge in implementing Bentham's utilitarianism in practical decision-making?

<p>The complexity of accurately predicting consequences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is central to Bentham's utilitarianism?

<p>Moral impartiality among individuals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes quantitative hedonism from qualitative hedonism in Bentham's philosophy?

<p>The focus on pleasure intensity and duration. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Tyranny of the Majority

Neglecting or oppressing minority groups in favor of maximizing overall happiness.

Bentham's Influence

Bentham's ideas propelled 19th-century social reforms.

Bentham's Impact Areas

Criminal justice, public policy, and welfare economics.

Modern Ethical Discussions

Bentham's ideas about maximizing good continue to be debated today.

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Felicific Calculus

Bentham's method for measuring happiness.

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Utilitarianism

A consequentialist ethical theory focused on maximizing happiness and minimizing pain for the greatest number of people.

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Act Utilitarianism

Evaluating the morality of each individual action by its ability to maximize happiness.

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Hedonism

The belief that pleasure is the ultimate good and pain is the ultimate evil.

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Quantitative Hedonism

Focuses on the intensity and duration of pleasure, not its type.

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Impartiality (Utilitarianism)

In utilitarianism, everyone's happiness counts the same.

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Problem of predicting consequences

Utilitarianism faces difficulties in accurately anticipating future outcomes.

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Rights vs. Utility

Utilitarianism can sometimes allow actions that violate individual rights for greater good.

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Study Notes

Introduction to Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism

  • Bentham's utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory.
  • It focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions, rather than the intentions or motives behind them.
  • The core principle is to maximize overall happiness or pleasure and minimize pain for the greatest number of people.
  • His philosophy emphasizes quantification of happiness and pain.

Key Concepts

  • Hedonism: Bentham believed pleasure is the ultimate good and pain is the ultimate evil.
  • Felicific Calculus: This is a method to calculate the overall happiness or pleasure produced by an action. It considers factors like intensity, duration, certainty/uncertainty, propinquity/remoteness, fecundity (likelihood of further pleasures), purity (absence of pain), and extent (number of people affected).
  • Act Utilitarianism: This approach evaluates the morality of each individual action based on whether it maximizes happiness (e.g. stealing food to prevent starvation is morally acceptable if it leads to greater happiness).
  • Qualitative vs. Quantitative Hedonism: Bentham focused on the quantitative aspect (greater intensity and duration) of pain and pleasure. He didn’t distinguish different types of pleasures (e.g. intellectual vs. bodily).
  • Impartiality: All individuals' happiness counts equally. The happiness of one person is not more important than the happiness of another.
  • Moral Judgement of Actions: Individuals should look at actions to determine whether they maximize happiness and minimize pain.

Criticisms of Bentham's Utilitarianism

  • Difficulty of Measuring Happiness/Pleasure: The quantification of pleasure and pain is extremely complex and subjective. It is difficult to accurately measure happiness for every individual impacted, let alone for a group of individuals or communities.
  • Ignoring Individual Rights: Critics argue that utilitarianism can justify actions that violate individual rights if the overall happiness is increased. For example, sacrificing one innocent person to save the lives of many could be argued as morally acceptable if it produces a greater overall good.
  • Problem of predicting the consequences of actions.: Predicting the long-term consequences of any action is hard. This raises issues about whether utilitarianism provides sufficient practical guidance for making ethical decisions.
  • Potential for Tyranny of the Majority: A focus solely on maximizing overall happiness could easily lead to the neglect or oppression of minority groups if those groups’ happiness is perceived as less important.

Bentham's Impact and Legacy

  • Bentham's ideas significantly influenced legal and social reforms in the 19th century. His focus on creating institutions that promoted the greatest happiness had a positive impact on social reform and improved the welfare of many people.
  • His work has been highly influential in criminal justice, public policy, and welfare economics.
  • His ideas continue to be discussed and debated in modern ethical discussions.
  • Though his exact methods (such as the felicific calculus) are less prominent in contemporary discussions, his foundational ideas about calculating the good are still relevant in issues surrounding public policy.

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