Philosophy: Utilitarianism and John Stuart Mill

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Questions and Answers

What is the basis of Kant's claim that motivates morality?

Rational respect for law (correct)

Emotional response to situations

Personal opinions and beliefs

Sense of duty

What are perfect duties, according to Kant?

Duties that must be followed in conflicts between duties (correct)

Duties that allow flexibility

Duties that are optional in certain situations

Duties that vary depending on circumstances

What is the third formulation of Kant's categorical imperative?

Kingdom of Means

Kingdom of Morality

Kingdom of Duty

Kingdom of Ends (correct)

What is the principle that human life is sacred and inviolable?

Formula of Humanity Signup and view all the answers

Why is killing one person for millions considered impermissible, according to Kant?

Because human life is sacred and inviolable Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of Kantian ethics?

It discounts outcome in evaluating morality Signup and view all the answers

What is another term for Filipino people born between 1980 and 1995?

Fillenials Signup and view all the answers

Approximately how many Fillenials are there in the Philippines?

26 million Signup and view all the answers

What do intellectual virtues particularly relate to?

Professions Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the concept of final cause or purpose?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of habit, according to Aristotle?

Moral virtue Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for the development of good character?

Constant practice Signup and view all the answers

Who studied the works of Aristotle?

St. Thomas Aquinas Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of happiness, according to St. Thomas Aquinas?

Developing a good character Signup and view all the answers

What prevents or interferes with the purpose for which something is created?

Anything that prevents or interferes Signup and view all the answers

What is the nickname of the Millennial generation?

The 'Look at Me' Generation Signup and view all the answers

What type of basis is provided by St. Thomas Aquinas for Christian morality?

Rational Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of emotions in moral decision making?

To act as a moral compass, guiding actions with personal values Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of making a decision based on intense emotions?

A poor emotional decision justified with rational reasons Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of gathering information in ethical analysis?

It is essential for an informed moral judgment Signup and view all the answers

How should moral issues be stated in an ethical analysis?

In a P vs. Q format, highlighting competing interests Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of reason and impartiality in morality?

They are minimum requirements for moral judgment Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of feelings in moral decision making?

They are partially mental and partially physical Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential pitfall of relying on emotions in moral decision making?

It overrides rational decision making Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary principle of utilitarianism?

An action is morally right if it produces a greater quantity of good or happiness than any other possible action. Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with expanding and refining the ideas of utilitarianism?

John Stuart Mill Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of the 'swinish doctrine' objection?

It elevates the pursuit of pleasure over higher moral values. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of rule utilitarianism?

Evaluating the moral worth of moral rules. Signup and view all the answers

According to utilitarianism, what is the morally right action?

An action that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of utilitarianism, according to the second objection?

It is unable to calculate the amount of pleasure/happiness and pain that an act produces. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of act utilitarianism?

Determining the moral goodness of individual actions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of utilitarianism's inability to account for moral goodness?

It cannot account for the moral goodness of acts of martyrdom or self-sacrifice. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Natural Law?

To apply absolute morality without exception Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of the final cause in the context of Natural Law?

To understand the ultimate purpose of an action Signup and view all the answers

What are the four cardinal virtues in Natural Law?

Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Natural Law that emphasizes its universal applicability?

Absolute morality Signup and view all the answers

What is the strength of Natural Law in terms of its guidance?

It provides clear and specific moral guidance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary weakness of Natural Law?

It is inflexible and does not consider individual circumstances Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Utilitarianism

A theory of moral philosophy that is based on the principle that an action is morally right if it produces a greater quantity of good or happiness than any other possible action.
It is consequentialism in nature, meaning that the moral rightness of an action is determined by its consequences.
The greatest happiness for the greatest number is the ultimate goal of utilitarianism.

John Stuart Mill

A British philosopher and economist who expanded and refined the ideas of utilitarianism.
He was a wayward disciple of Bentham and believed that an act is morally right if it produces the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people.

Principles of Utilitarianism

An act is morally right if it produces the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people and it is morally wrong if it produces more pain than pleasure to the greatest number of people.
There are three generally accepted principles of utilitarianism.

Objections to Utilitarianism

First objection: Utilitarianism allegedly endorses a "swinish doctrine" because it does not account for the moral goodness of acts of martyrdom or self-sacrifice.
Second objection: It is bound to fail because there is no objective way to decide which type of pleasure is superior to the other types.
Third objection: It cannot account for the moral goodness of acts of martyrdom or self-sacrifice.

Kant's Categorical Imperative

A moral philosophy that classifies duties as perfect and imperfect.
Perfect duties are always true, while imperfect duties allow flexibility.
Kant argued that perfect duties are more important than imperfect duties, as they must be followed in conflicts between duties.

Types of Duties

Hypothetical Imperatives: These are based on desires or goals.
Categorical Imperative: This is a moral principle that is based on reason and is universal.

Criticisms of Kantian Ethics

Kantian ethics criticizes its discounting of outcome in evaluating morality.
Kant's formula of humanity states that human life is sacred and inviolable, and killing one person for millions is impermissible.

Millenials and Fillenials

Millenials are people born between 1980 and 1995.
Fillenials are Filipino people born between 1980 and 1995.

Emotions and Morality

Emotions provide rapid, intuitive responses to moral dilemmas, helping individuals make swift decisions in complex situations.
Feelings can highlight the moral significance of a situation, prompting individuals to give more thought to ethical consideration.
Feelings can act as a moral compass, helping individuals align their actions with their personal values and personal norms.

Cons of Feelings as a Modifier of Decision Making

We make quick decisions without knowing why, and then create rational reasons to justify a poor emotional decision.
The intensity of emotion can override rational decision making in cases where it is clearly needed.

Intellectual and Moral Virtues

Intellectual virtues relate particularly to our professions, i.e., they will differ for a truck driver, cook, lawyer, farmer, doctor, etc.
Moral virtues are common to all humans, but they may vary in degree according to our capacities.

Natural Law

The rational understanding and following of God's final purpose.
Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) believed that humans were created with the ability to reason and can therefore choose to follow an intended purpose.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) developed the idea of natural law, stating that God created everything with a sense of purpose.
Anything that prevents or interferes with the purpose for which something is created is wrong.

Good Character

Happiness comes from developing a good character.
A good character comes from the development of good habits.

Two Causes

Efficient cause: the agent that brings something about.
Final cause: the final aim or purpose of something.

Secondary Precepts

These are more specific such as to only have one husband or wife.
They must be interpreted in the context of the situation.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Natural Law

Strengths: Based on reason, good guidance is given on how to behave, it is an example of absolute morality, it is a clear-cut theory, and it is straightforward.
Weaknesses: There is no need to look at each individual situation to work out if an action is right or wrong, and it is not flexible.

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of utilitarianism, a moral philosophy that aims to maximize happiness, and its relation to John Stuart Mill, a British philosopher and economist.