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What is one reason child labor was prevalent during the Industrial Revolution?
Which of the following is a consequence of the Industrial Revolution concerning worker security?
How did advancements in machinery impact employment during the Industrial Revolution?
What was a common form of discipline used against child laborers in factories?
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Which factor contributed to the widening gap between rich and poor during industrialization?
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What aspect of workers' rights was notably absent during the early Industrial Revolution?
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What is a risk associated with factory employment as described during the Industrial Revolution?
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What was the primary motivation for factory owners during the Industrial Revolution?
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What is a key characteristic of Bentham's utilitarianism?
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Which social issue did Bentham advocate for?
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What was one of the major social consequences of the Industrial Revolution?
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What was a common characteristic of factory life during the Industrial Revolution?
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How did Bentham view the existing moral standards of his society?
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What was a typical punishment in factories for minor infractions during the Industrial Revolution?
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What effect did industrialization have on the living standards of the working class?
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What was a notable characteristic of employee treatment in factories?
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Which factor is NOT considered when calculating the overall utility of an action?
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What does the duration of an effect refer to in the calculus of utility?
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Which aspect of effects does probability refer to in utilitarian analysis?
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What is a key component of the act that utilitarianism deems morally right?
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How does intensity impact the analysis of utility?
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Which of the following statements about utilitarianism is TRUE?
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In utilitarianism, what is disutility?
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What distinguishes a short-lived effect from a long-lasting effect?
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What is one major objection against performing any actions on a patient in a vegetative state?
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Which of the following statements best reflects the perspective of Act Utilitarianism on pleasure?
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In the context of utilitarian ethics, what is a significant challenge when evaluating actions?
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Which objection questions the permissibility of performing actions on patients without sensation?
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What can be inferred about the 'Dragon Lady' reference in relation to utilitarianism?
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What is a notable aspect of utilitarianism regarding pleasures?
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In the context of casual sex scenarios, what criteria could define a morally acceptable situation according to Bentham’s theory?
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Which objection raises concerns about the potential consequences of actions taken on a patient in a vegetative state?
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What does Bentham identify as the foundation of morals and legislation?
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How does Bentham suggest we should evaluate the morality of actions?
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According to Bentham, what should be considered equally when assessing pleasure and pain?
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What does Bentham imply about the consequences of actions in moral assessments?
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What is the relationship between pleasure and pain according to Bentham's theory?
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What aspect of human experience does Bentham emphasize in his utilitarian approach?
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What does Bentham say about efforts to escape from the influences of morality?
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In utilitarian philosophy, what is the goal we should strive for?
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Study Notes
Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism
- Bentham's utilitarianism is an objectivist ethical theory, meaning it focuses on objective moral principles that apply equally to everyone.
- Bentham sought to create an egalitarian doctrine that recognized the interests of all human beings, regardless of their social status.
- He was a strong advocate for gender equality, animal welfare, universal education, abolition of slavery, and the end of physical punishment.
Historical Context: The Industrial Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution marked a period of rapid industrial development fueled by machinery.
- It brought about significant social inequalities, leading to a widening gap between the rich and poor.
Economic Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution resulted in an increase in the quantity and variety of goods available to consumers.
- There was a rise in productivity, leading to cheaper prices for most goods.
- The working class, however, experienced little benefit, facing long working hours, low wages, and little leisure time.
- The privileged class, meanwhile, saw their standard of living elevated.
Factory Life
- Factory work was characterized by repetitive tasks, strict timetables, and harsh discipline imposed by factory owners.
- Skilled workers were not necessary, and workers were easily replaceable, leaving them at the mercy of their employers.
- Factory conditions were often hazardous and appalling, featuring long working hours, lack of safety regulations, and crowded, unsanitary housing.
- Child labor was prevalent due to their dexterity, small size, compliance, and affordability.
- Factory owners frequently resorted to physical punishment for rule infractions.
- Workers lived with the constant fear of job security, as factories could close without warning, leaving them with no alternative sources of income.
- Automation replaced human workers, leading to unemployment.
Other Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
- Factory owners prioritized profit maximization by paying workers the lowest possible wages and seeking to maximize production.
- This often came at the expense of worker safety and well-being.
The Theory of Utilitarianism
- Bentham believed that all actions have consequences, both for the actors and those around them.
- Consequences are often a mix of pleasure and pain, or good and bad.
- He argued that the morality of actions should be determined by their consequences.
- An action is morally wrong if it produces more negative consequences for all involved.
- An action is morally right if it produces more positive consequences for all involved.
Everybody Counts for One
- Because he was an egalitarian, Bentham believed that the happiness or suffering of any individual should not be valued more than anyone else's.
- Everyone's pleasure and pain should be treated with equal consideration.
The Universal Moral Principle of Utilitarianism
- The principle of utilitarianism is "to always act in a way that promotes the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people, knowing that everybody counts for one."
- This means morality is about maximizing happiness for the most people possible.
Calculus of Utility: Moral Arithmetic
- Bentham proposed a "calculus of utility" to evaluate the consequences of actions in terms of their potential for generating happiness or suffering.
- This calculus considers several factors:
- Scope: How many people are affected?
- Duration: How long do the effects last?
- Intensity: How strong are the experiences?
- Probability: How likely is each effect to occur?
- The morally right action is the one that produces the greatest overall utility, calculated by subtracting disutility (pain) from utility (pleasure).
- Morality is therefore context-based, as the right action varies depending on the situation.
Problematic Examples of Utilitarianism
- Indigenous Women Abuse: The case of Angela King, a victim of abuse, illustrates the potential for utilitarianism to justify harmful acts if they benefit a majority.
- Racist Slavery: A hypothetical society where slaves are implemented to benefit the majority's desire for idleness and hatred of foreigners raises concerns about utilitarianism's ability to justify oppression.
- Vegetative State Coma: The suffering of a person in a vegetative state could be disregarded under utilitarianism, as they are unable to feel or experience anything.
Objections to Utilitarianism
- Justice/Human Rights: Utilitarianism can overlook individual rights and justice if prioritizing overall happiness.
- Moral Permissiveness: The focus on maximizing happiness can lead to justification of immoral actions under certain circumstances.
- Moral Saints: Utilitarianism demands constant calculation and self-sacrifice, potentially leading to a life unfulfilling and lacking in individual passion and desires.
- Calculation Problem: Accurately predicting future consequences and their impact on happiness is challenging and difficult.
Strengths of Utilitarianism
- Flexibility: It can adapt to different situations and contexts.
- Liberal Approach: It emphasizes equality and individual freedom.
- Focus on Consequences: It considers the real-world impact of actions, unlike deontological ethics that focus solely on rules.
Dragon Lady Example
- The Dragon Lady example highlights the flexibility of utilitarianism by exploring two scenarios involving casual sex, one morally acceptable and one morally wrong.
- Utilitarianism allows for different interpretations of pleasure and does not dismiss certain pleasures as “bad” pleasures.
FGM and B'rit Milah
- The examples of FGM and the Jewish circumcision ritual, "B'rit Milah", raise questions about how to apply utilitarian reasoning to culturally sensitive practices.
- Utilitarianism can be used to analyze the consequences of these actions, but it may not provide a clear-cut answer as to their moral rightness or wrongness, especially in contexts where cultural values and beliefs are involved.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism and its ethical implications. This quiz covers the historical context of the Industrial Revolution, including its social and economic consequences. Explore Bentham's advocacy for equality and welfare for all individuals.
