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?
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What sort of philosophical theory is utilitarianism?
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What is consequentialism?
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Who was Jeremy Bentham?
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What sort of a utilitarian was Bentham?
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Put simply, what is the utility calculus?
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In relation to the utility calculus, how is utilitarianism an egalitarian theory?
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What are two other names for the utility calculus?
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For Bentham, what is the key to assessing which of two actions is the better?
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Which factors are used to assess the value of an action in the utility calculus?
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What are the criticisms of the utility calculus?
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What is Nozik's 'experience machine'?
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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.