Jeremy Bentham and Utility Calculus

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Questions and Answers

What is utility?

The capacity/state of being useful or beneficial

What is the principle of utility?

Any action should aim to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

In utilitarianism, what is the ultimate end of our actions?

Happiness

What is hedonism?

Idea that pleasure is the highest good and the aim of human life Signup and view all the answers

What sort of philosophical theory is utilitarianism?

Consequentialist Signup and view all the answers

What is consequentialism?

The doctrine that the morality of an action is to be judged solely by its consequences. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Jeremy Bentham?

Often cited as the father of utilitarianism, he was the first to articulate the theory of utilitarianism and apply it to society. Signup and view all the answers

What sort of a utilitarian was Bentham?

Hedonistic Utilitarian, Act Utilitarian Signup and view all the answers

Put simply, what is the utility calculus?

It's a complicated test for assessing how much pleasure or pain any given action may bring about. Signup and view all the answers

In relation to the utility calculus, how is utilitarianism an egalitarian theory?

The pleasure and pain of each person is to be taken equally. Signup and view all the answers

What are two other names for the utility calculus?

The Hedonic calculus, The Felicific calculus Signup and view all the answers

For Bentham, what is the key to assessing which of two actions is the better?

The amount of happiness each will produce Signup and view all the answers

Which factors are used to assess the value of an action in the utility calculus?

Intensity, Duration, Certainty, Remoteness, Fecundity, Purity, Extent Signup and view all the answers

What are the criticisms of the utility calculus?

It assumes we always desire happiness, animals aren't considered, hard to know consequences, too difficult. Signup and view all the answers

What is Nozik's 'experience machine'?

A hypothetical machine where we may be eternally happy, but would be void of all human emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts of Utilitarianism and Jeremy Bentham

Utility: Refers to the state of being useful or beneficial; central to utilitarian thought.
Principle of Utility: Actions should aim for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, guiding ethical decision-making.
Ultimate Aim of Actions: Happiness is regarded as the ultimate end; hedonistic utilitarians view all desires as pathways to happiness.
Hedonism: Philosophy suggesting pleasure is the highest good and primary aim of human life.

Philosophical Foundations

Utilitarianism: Classified as a consequentialist philosophy, where morality hinges solely on the outcome of actions.
Consequentialism: Evaluates morality based solely on the consequences of actions taken.

Jeremy Bentham and His Contributions

Jeremy Bentham: Regarded as the "father of utilitarianism"; developed the utility calculus for assessing pleasure or pain resulting from actions.
Type of Utilitarianism: Bentham is recognized as a hedonistic and act utilitarian, focusing on individual actions rather than general rules.

Utility Calculus

Utility Calculus: A complex test to gauge the pleasure or pain an action may generate, facilitating the choice of actions that maximize happiness.
Egalitarian Nature: When utilizing the utility calculus, the happiness and suffering of individuals are treated equally; no individual's welfare is prioritized over another's.

Terminology

Alternate Names: The utility calculus is also known as the Hedonic Calculus and the Felicific Calculus.
Assessment Criteria: Evaluates actions based on intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, fecundity (potential to produce more pleasure), purity (likelihood of producing only pleasure), and extent (number of people affected).

Criticisms of Utility Calculus

Assumption of Universality: Criticized for presuming that individuals always seek happiness, illustrated by Nozik's experience machine thought experiment.
Exclusion of Animals: Lacks consideration of non-human animals within applied ethics.
Prediction Difficulty: Assessing the true consequences of actions proves challenging.
Complexity and Time: The process can be seen as overly complicated and time-consuming for practical application.

Nozik's Experience Machine

Experience Machine: A hypothetical scenario illustrating the debate on the intrinsic value of experiences versus mere happiness; challenges the assumption that happiness is the only aim of life.

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Description

Explore the foundational concepts of utilitarianism through key definitions related to Jeremy Bentham's philosophy. This quiz will help you understand utility, the principle of utility, and the ultimate goal of our actions in utilitarian thought. Perfect for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of ethical theories.