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Questions and Answers
What does utilitarianism primarily emphasize in ethical decision-making?
What does utilitarianism primarily emphasize in ethical decision-making?
- The consequences of actions (correct)
- The legal implications of an action
- The intrinsic value of each individual right
- The moral intent of the action
According to Jeremy Bentham, what are the two 'sovereign masters' that govern our actions?
According to Jeremy Bentham, what are the two 'sovereign masters' that govern our actions?
- Fear and happiness
- Justice and fairness
- Love and hate
- Pleasure and pain (correct)
What principle does utilitarianism argue can justify sacrificing individual rights?
What principle does utilitarianism argue can justify sacrificing individual rights?
- The principle of fairness
- The principle of legal supremacy
- The principle of utility (correct)
- The principle of individualism
In the context of utilitarianism, what must be considered beyond merely experiencing pleasure?
In the context of utilitarianism, what must be considered beyond merely experiencing pleasure?
How does utilitarianism define an action as morally good?
How does utilitarianism define an action as morally good?
According to the utilitarian perspective, what motivates human actions?
According to the utilitarian perspective, what motivates human actions?
What does the principle of utility primarily assess?
What does the principle of utility primarily assess?
What aspect of utilitarianism can lead to challenging ethical dilemmas?
What aspect of utilitarianism can lead to challenging ethical dilemmas?
What is the primary basis for determining the moral value of actions in utilitarianism?
What is the primary basis for determining the moral value of actions in utilitarianism?
According to utilitarianism, how should government laws be formulated?
According to utilitarianism, how should government laws be formulated?
Which statement best reflects Bentham's perspective on utilitarianism?
Which statement best reflects Bentham's perspective on utilitarianism?
What aspect of pleasure does Mill argue cannot be included in his version of utilitarianism?
What aspect of pleasure does Mill argue cannot be included in his version of utilitarianism?
What principle does utilitarianism advocate regarding individual rights?
What principle does utilitarianism advocate regarding individual rights?
What is a key characteristic of utilitarianism concerning personal pleasure?
What is a key characteristic of utilitarianism concerning personal pleasure?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of utilitarianism?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of utilitarianism?
How does the utilitarian approach regard the role of laws?
How does the utilitarian approach regard the role of laws?
What is the main distinction made by social hedonism?
What is the main distinction made by social hedonism?
Which component of the felicific calculus involves the likelihood of pleasure happening?
Which component of the felicific calculus involves the likelihood of pleasure happening?
What does the principle of greatest number emphasize in utilitarian ethics?
What does the principle of greatest number emphasize in utilitarian ethics?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a lower pleasure?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a lower pleasure?
What does propinquity refer to in the evaluation of pleasure?
What does propinquity refer to in the evaluation of pleasure?
Which of the following aspects of pleasure does fecundity refer to?
Which of the following aspects of pleasure does fecundity refer to?
What is one belief held by proponents of utilitarianism in contrast to selfish materialism?
What is one belief held by proponents of utilitarianism in contrast to selfish materialism?
What is the implication of the statement about being dissatisfied as a human compared to being satisfied as a pig?
What is the implication of the statement about being dissatisfied as a human compared to being satisfied as a pig?
What is the primary focus of utilitarianism according to the content?
What is the primary focus of utilitarianism according to the content?
In utilitarianism, how is the moral value of an action determined?
In utilitarianism, how is the moral value of an action determined?
What does the phrase 'felicific calculus' refer to in the context of utilitarianism?
What does the phrase 'felicific calculus' refer to in the context of utilitarianism?
What does the content imply about the concept of rights?
What does the content imply about the concept of rights?
Which of the following actions would Mill likely consider justified based on utilitarian principles?
Which of the following actions would Mill likely consider justified based on utilitarian principles?
What is the primary concern of the more sophisticated form of utilitarianism mentioned?
What is the primary concern of the more sophisticated form of utilitarianism mentioned?
Which aspect is deemed irrelevant in assessing the moral value of an action?
Which aspect is deemed irrelevant in assessing the moral value of an action?
What does Mill believe about legal rights when they are not justified by the principle of greatest happiness?
What does Mill believe about legal rights when they are not justified by the principle of greatest happiness?
Mill distinguishes between which two types of rights?
Mill distinguishes between which two types of rights?
How did John Stuart Mill's early education contribute to his later work?
How did John Stuart Mill's early education contribute to his later work?
Which concept does Mill use to justify rights?
Which concept does Mill use to justify rights?
What notion of justice does Mill's utilitarianism promote?
What notion of justice does Mill's utilitarianism promote?
How does Mill's view on moral rights differ from Bentham's?
How does Mill's view on moral rights differ from Bentham's?
What aspect of pleasure does Mill recognize that Bentham does not?
What aspect of pleasure does Mill recognize that Bentham does not?
What is the significance of the principle of the greatest number in Mill's philosophy?
What is the significance of the principle of the greatest number in Mill's philosophy?
What does Mill imply about the nature of justice in relation to utilitarianism?
What does Mill imply about the nature of justice in relation to utilitarianism?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Utilitarianism
- Our actions are governed by two “sovereign masters”: pleasure and pain.
- The principle of utility suggests our actions are motivated by avoiding pain and seeking pleasure.
- Utilitarianism is consequentialist: the goodness or badness of an action is based on its usefulness in contributing to the happiness of the greatest number of people.
Key figures in Utilitarianism
- Jeremy Bentham – The founder of utilitarianism, he emphasizes the principle of utility: seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.
- John Stuart Mill – A proponent of utilitarianism who expands on Bentham's ideas, incorporating the quality of pleasure and recognizing higher and lower pleasures.
Key Concepts in Utilitarianism
- Happiness and Pleasure: Utilitarianism equates happiness with pleasure and considers actions that lead to pleasure as right, while those that produce pain are wrong.
- Felicific Calculus: A framework for calculating the pleasure produced by an action based on intensity, duration, certainty, and other factors.
- Social Hedonism: Actions are judged based on their presumed effect in promoting pleasure.
- The Principle of Greatest Number: Actions are evaluated based on their consequences for the greatest number of people.
- Justice and Moral Rights: Utilitarianism justifies moral rights by their contribution to the general good and the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
John Stuart Mill's Contributions to Utilitarianism
- Higher vs. Lower Pleasures: Mill proposes distinguishing between higher (intellectual, creative, spiritual) and lower (physical) pleasures, arguing that higher pleasures contribute more to long-term happiness.
- Qualitative Differences in Pleasure: Mill believes in the qualitative difference in pleasure, not just quantitative differences.
- Justification of Rights: Rights are justified by their ability to promote the greatest good and happiness for the greatest number.
Key Points to Remember
- Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory that focuses on the consequences of actions.
- The principle of utility emphasizes seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.
- Both Bentham and Mill view happiness as the ultimate goal of utilitarianism, but Mill believes in the qualitative difference between higher and lower pleasures.
- Utilitarianism is a theory of social justice as it seeks to maximize happiness for the greatest number of people.
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