Introduction to Utilitarianism
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Introduction to Utilitarianism

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Questions and Answers

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?

  • Fear and happiness
  • Justice and fairness
  • Love and hate
  • Pleasure and pain (correct)

    • 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?

    <p>The overall happiness produced by the action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does utilitarianism define an action as morally good?

    <p>If it produces more happiness than unhappiness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the utilitarian perspective, what motivates human actions?

    <p>Avoidance of pain and desire for pleasure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the principle of utility primarily assess?

    <p>The practical usefulness in benefiting the majority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of utilitarianism can lead to challenging ethical dilemmas?

    <p>Its willingness to sacrifice individual rights for collective happiness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary basis for determining the moral value of actions in utilitarianism?

    <p>The usefulness of their consequences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to utilitarianism, how should government laws be formulated?

    <p>They should prioritize the happiness principle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best reflects Bentham's perspective on utilitarianism?

    <p>Pleasure for the majority is the key to moral actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of pleasure does Mill argue cannot be included in his version of utilitarianism?

    <p>The pleasures appropriate to animals such as pigs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principle does utilitarianism advocate regarding individual rights?

    <p>Individual rights should be disregarded for the common good</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of utilitarianism concerning personal pleasure?

    <p>Each individual's pleasure is weighed equally</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of utilitarianism?

    <p>It values tradition and long-standing customs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the utilitarian approach regard the role of laws?

    <p>Laws should facilitate the greatest happiness for the greatest number</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main distinction made by social hedonism?

    <p>There are higher intellectual pleasures and lower base pleasures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the felicific calculus involves the likelihood of pleasure happening?

    <p>Certainty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the principle of greatest number emphasize in utilitarian ethics?

    <p>The best consequences for the highest number of people should be prioritized.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a lower pleasure?

    <p>Creativity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does propinquity refer to in the evaluation of pleasure?

    <p>The time until the pleasure is experienced.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects of pleasure does fecundity refer to?

    <p>The chance it has of being followed by sensations of the same kind.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one belief held by proponents of utilitarianism in contrast to selfish materialism?

    <p>Utilitarianism is not solely about the individual's happiness but rather the happiness of others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the statement about being dissatisfied as a human compared to being satisfied as a pig?

    <p>Intellectual and moral pursuits are seen as more valuable than base pleasures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of utilitarianism according to the content?

    <p>The greatest happiness of the greatest number</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In utilitarianism, how is the moral value of an action determined?

    <p>By the amount of pleasure and pain produced</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'felicific calculus' refer to in the context of utilitarianism?

    <p>A formula to calculate total happiness generated by actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the content imply about the concept of rights?

    <p>Rights require validation from social institutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following actions would Mill likely consider justified based on utilitarian principles?

    <p>Providing for the general welfare of the community</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of the more sophisticated form of utilitarianism mentioned?

    <p>Quality of pleasure and quantity of people</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect is deemed irrelevant in assessing the moral value of an action?

    <p>The intentions behind the action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Mill believe about legal rights when they are not justified by the principle of greatest happiness?

    <p>They need not be observed or respected</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mill distinguishes between which two types of rights?

    <p>Moral rights and legal rights</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did John Stuart Mill's early education contribute to his later work?

    <p>It fostered a deep understanding of historical and legal frameworks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which concept does Mill use to justify rights?

    <p>Consequences that promote overall happiness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notion of justice does Mill's utilitarianism promote?

    <p>Justice as an outcome of the greatest happiness for the majority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Mill's view on moral rights differ from Bentham's?

    <p>Mill believes in both qualitative and quantitative distinctions of pleasure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of pleasure does Mill recognize that Bentham does not?

    <p>The higher and lower types of human pleasure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the principle of the greatest number in Mill's philosophy?

    <p>It emphasizes maximizing happiness for the majority.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Mill imply about the nature of justice in relation to utilitarianism?

    <p>Justice must align with promoting overall happiness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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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    Description

    Explore the fundamental concepts of Utilitarianism and its key figures, including Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Understand how the principle of utility guides moral actions towards pleasure and away from pain. This quiz covers the essential theories and applications of Utilitarian ethics.

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