Jeremy Bentham: Utilitarian Ethics
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Questions and Answers

What was Jeremy Bentham's primary intellectual contribution to moral philosophy?

  • Deontological ethics
  • Utilitarianism (correct)
  • Natural rights theory
  • Social contract theory

Which institution did Jeremy Bentham attend to study law?

  • Lincoln's Inn (correct)
  • Cambridge University
  • Queen's College, Oxford
  • Harvard Law School

Which historical event was influenced by Bentham's ideas?

  • The Magna Carta
  • The Glorious Revolution
  • The English Civil War
  • The Reform Bill of 1832 (correct)

What was one of Bentham's primary goals in his literary career?

<p>To modernize legal and social institutions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Bentham think of Sir William Blackstone's legal theory?

<p>He regarded it as rhetorical nonsense. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was a notable philosophical descendant of Jeremy Bentham?

<p>Bertrand Russell (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What profession did Bentham reject in favor of pursuing a literary career?

<p>Practicing lawyer (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Jeremy Bentham's philosophical lineage is known for which of the following elements?

<p>Focus on political activism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do sanctions primarily serve to do, according to Bentham?

<p>Motivate individuals through pleasure and pain. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sanction is described as not administered by any human or divine source?

<p>Physical sanctions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do moral sanctions primarily influence behavior, based on the content?

<p>By shaping social expectations and peer pressures. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Bentham's main focus when discussing political sanctions?

<p>To advocate for reforms in the legal systems to enhance welfare. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bentham, what might motivate an individual to change their behavior due to fear of social consequences?

<p>Ostracism and peer-group pressure. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sanction type reflects obedience to divine authority or religious texts?

<p>Religious sanctions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do political sanctions play in Bentham's view of legal systems?

<p>They help establish a system of rewards and punishments to deter crimes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Bentham argue that laws should function in society?

<p>To enhance individual pursuit of self-interests for the greater good. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bentham view the influence of sanctions on individual behavior?

<p>They play a crucial and often underappreciated role in guiding actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome of following sanctions according to Bentham’s theory?

<p>Fostering peace and order in society. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of human behavior does Bentham's utilitarianism fundamentally rely on?

<p>Psychological egoism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bentham, what determines the ethical value of actions?

<p>Real-life results (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of utility as stated by Bentham?

<p>It evaluates every action based on its tendency to increase or decrease happiness. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did Bentham reject as bases for moral evaluation?

<p>Tradition and aristocratic privilege (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What logical issue is associated with Bentham's leap from psychological egoism to ethical egoism?

<p>Is-ought fallacy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Bentham see as the proper response to actions that promote pain or suffering?

<p>To discourage and minimize those actions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Bentham's view on the role of pleasure in ethics?

<p>Pleasure is the only standard for judging actions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Bentham argue about the nature of morality?

<p>Morality is determined by the consequences of actions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In criticizing other moral theories, what does Bentham imply about their clarity?

<p>They are vague and inconsistent. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Bentham mean when referring to 'sovereign masters'?

<p>Pain and pleasure (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the essence of the ethical stance Bentham advocates?

<p>Evaluate actions based on their consequences on happiness. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bentham characterize the relationship between pleasure and moral obligations?

<p>Pleasure serves as a guide for moral duties. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bentham, what must all actions ultimately contribute to?

<p>Increasing overall happiness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Jeremy Bentham

An 18th-century English philosopher and social reformer known for his utilitarian ethics. He believed that the best action is the one that maximizes happiness for the greatest number of people.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that states the best action is the one that maximizes utility, which is often defined as maximizing happiness or well-being.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all humans by virtue of their existence, not granted by any government or institution. According to Bentham, these were a 'rhetorical nonsense.'

Reform Bill of 1832

A landmark piece of legislation in British history that transferred political power from the landed aristocracy to the urban bourgeoisie, influenced by Bentham's ideas.

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Social Reformer

A person who advocates for social change and works to improve societal problems, like Bentham who aimed to modernize British institutions.

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Philosophical Lineage

A chain of thinkers influencing each other's ideas. Bentham, Mill, and Russell form a notable philosophical lineage marked by political activism.

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What was Bentham's view on 'natural rights'?

Bentham rejected 'natural rights' as nonsensical, instead advocating for a utilitarian approach to law and justice.

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How did Bentham influence the Reform Bill of 1832?

Bentham's ideas about social reform and the need for modernized institutions likely contributed to the passage of the Reform Bill, which shifted political power in Britain.

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Sanctions

Rewards and punishments that motivate people to follow rules, laws, or social norms. They can influence our behavior by creating incentives to act in desired ways and deterring actions that lead to unpleasant consequences.

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Psychological Egoism

The belief that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

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Physical Sanctions

Natural consequences that arise from actions without human intervention, like gravity's pull.

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Moral Sanctions

Social punishments or rewards for behavior, like peer pressure, social approval, or disapproval.

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Religious Sanctions

Rewards and punishments from a higher power, influencing behavior due to faith and belief in an afterlife.

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Political Sanctions

Formal punishments and rewards given by the state, through legal systems like fines, imprisonment, or laws promoting good conduct.

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Bentham's Theory of Sanctions

The idea that society's rules and laws, and the rewards/punishments they bring, are the primary motivators for people's behavior.

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How do sanctions influence behavior?

Sanctions influence behavior by creating incentives to act in a way that leads to desired outcomes, while deterring behaviors that result in negative consequences.

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What is the relationship between sanctions and social order?

The concept of sanctions is fundamental to maintaining social order, as it provides a set of rules, incentives, and consequences that govern human behavior, leading to predictability and cooperation.

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Principle of Utility

Bentham's core principle: every action should be judged by its tendency to increase or decrease happiness.

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Ethical Egoism

The belief that we ought to seek our own pleasure, making it a moral obligation.

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Is-Ought Fallacy

A logical error where you assume what is (fact) should be what ought to be (moral rule).

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Bentham's View on 'Natural Rights'

Bentham rejected 'natural rights' as nonsensical, arguing they served the interests of the powerful.

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Bentham's Approach to Morality

Bentham believed morality should be based on observable consequences, not tradition or authority.

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Why is Bentham's Utilitarianism Consequentialist?

Because the morality of an action is determined by its consequences, not its inherent nature.

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How does Bentham apply Utilitarianism to society?

He argues that government actions should be evaluated based on their ability to maximize public happiness.

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Bentham's Criticisms of Tradition and Authority

He believed that tradition, privilege, and religion often served the interests of the elite, not the people.

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What is Bentham's 'commonsense empirical' approach?

He favored basing social improvement on real-world observations and practical consequences.

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Why does Bentham say pleasure is our 'sovereign master'?

He believes that pleasure and pain are the primary motivators of human behavior.

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What does Bentham mean by 'utility'?

It's the same as benefit, advantage, pleasure, happiness, or goodness. Things with utility promote well-being.

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How does pleasure become a moral standard for Bentham?

He believes we ought to seek pleasure, as it's our natural drive and the source of value.

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Why is Bentham's leap from psychological egoism to ethical egoism problematic?

It's a logical fallacy to assume that what is (pleasure seeking) ought to be (moral obligation).

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Study Notes

Jeremy Bentham: Utilitarian Ethics

  • Born in London 1748, intellectually precocious
  • Early education: Latin grammar at age 4; Queen's College, Oxford at 12
  • Earned Bachelor of Arts at Oxford in 1763; Legal studies Lincoln's Inn
  • Influenced by Sir William Blackstone's natural rights theory; Rejected it, developed own utilitarian view
  • Master of Arts in 1766; Didn't pursue law; Became social reformer
  • Modernized British political/social institutions; Influenced Reform Bill of 1832 (power shift from aristocracy to bourgeoisie)
  • Godfather of John Stuart Mill (who was later godfather of Bertrand Russell)
  • Philosophical lineage with political activism.

Utilitarian Ethics

  • Key figure in utilitarianism
  • Not sole inventor; influenced by Hobbes and Locke
  • Connected utilitarianism to 19th-century English society (moral thought and reform)
  • Sought scientific objectivity in ethics; Rejected tradition, aristocratic privilege, religious faith (deemed them serving ruling classes)
  • Preferred commonsense, empirical approach to social reform
  • Evaluated actions/government by practical consequences (good produced)
  • Consequentialist view: action's worth determined by outcome
  • Principle of Utility:
    • Promotes happiness for all affected;
    • Measures all actions aiming to increase happiness or diminish unhappiness.
    • "Utility" synonymous with benefit, advantage, pleasure, happiness, goodness. Opposes misery, pain, evil, suffering.

Psychological and Ethical Egoism

  • Based on psychological egoism: Humans inherently seek pleasure, avoid pain

  • "Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure."

  • Ethical egoism: Seeking pleasure is morally obligatory; Pleasure/avoidance of pain are standards for right/wrong

  • "Is-ought fallacy": Incorrectly deriving moral "ought" from an "is" (human behavior).

  • Morality shouldn't be tied to human nature , even if naturally prone to evil

  • People not inherently justified in actions like lying, killing, etc.

The Role of Sanctions

  • Sanctions: Sources of pleasure/pain influencing behavior
  • Physical sanctions: Laws of nature (e.g., gravity)
  • Moral sanctions: Peer group pressure, social expectations, and ostracism
  • Religious sanctions: Religious belief system (heaven/hell)
  • Political sanctions: Formal punishments/rewards by state (fines, jail, order)
  • Political sanctions most important to Bentham; aimed to promote general welfare by individuals pursuing their advantage, while also maximizing good overall (utilitarian ideals).

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Description

Explore the life and philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, a pivotal figure in utilitarian ethics. Learn about his education, social reform efforts, and the impact of his ideas on 19th-century English society. Discover how his rejection of traditional ethics shaped modern political thought.

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