Understanding Utilitarianism

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Questions and Answers

Compare and contrast extreme (act) and restricted (rule) utilitarianism. Provide an example scenario where the two approaches would lead to different moral conclusions.

Extreme utilitarianism judges each action based on its immediate happiness, regardless of rules. Restricted utilitarianism follows rules that generally lead to the greatest happiness over time. An example would be lying - extreme utilitarianism might justify it to avoid immediate harm, while restricted utilitarianism would condemn it due to the general rule against lying and its long-term benefits for trust.

Explain how utilitarianism might justify actions that are intuitively unfair or unjust. Provide an example.

Utilitarianism focuses on overall well-being, so it may justify actions that harm one person if they greatly benefit many others. For instance, it may justify taxing a wealthy person at a very high rate if the funds are used to substantially improve the lives of many poor people, even if the wealthy person feels unfairly burdened.

Describe Nozick's Experience Machine and explain how it challenges the core tenets of utilitarianism.

Nozick's Experience Machine offers a life of simulated happiness. However, most people would choose not to plug in, as they value genuine experiences and achievements over mere pleasure. This challenges utilitarianism by suggesting that happiness isn't the only or highest good; things like autonomy and real-world accomplishments matter too.

How does Kant's concept of the 'Good Will' differ from utilitarianism's focus on consequences?

Kant's Good Will is intrinsically good, regardless of outcomes, focusing on intent and moral duty. Utilitarianism judges actions by their consequences, prioritizing overall happiness. Kant would say an action is morally good if done out of duty, even if it leads to a bad outcome, while a utilitarian would focus on the outcome itself. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Kant's Formula of Universal Law (FUL) and provide an example of how it can be applied to a moral dilemma.

The FUL states that we should only act on maxims that we could will to become universal laws. For example, if considering lying to get out of a difficult situation, we must ask if a world where everyone lies would be possible. Since trust would collapse, lying becomes self-defeating, and thus morally wrong. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the 'murderer at the door' objection to Kant's ethics and how it challenges his absolute prohibition against lying.

The 'murderer at the door' objection poses a situation where lying could save a life. Kant's strict adherence to the FUL would seemingly require telling the truth, even to a murderer seeking to harm someone. Critics argue this highlights a flaw in Kant's system, as it can lead to intuitively immoral outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

How does Aristotle's virtue ethics differ from both utilitarianism and deontology in its approach to moral decision-making?

Virtue ethics focuses on developing virtuous character traits rather than following rules (deontology) or maximizing happiness (utilitarianism). It asks, 'What kind of person should I be?' rather than 'What should I do?' It emphasizes practical wisdom and the cultivation of good habits to achieve eudaimonia (flourishing). Signup and view all the answers

Explain Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia and why he considers it the ultimate goal of human life.

Eudaimonia is often translated as 'flourishing' or 'living well.' It is not simply pleasure but realizing one's full potential as a human being through virtuous action and the development of reason. Aristotle views it as the ultimate goal because it is complete, self-sufficient, and choice-worthy for its own sake. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Aristotle's doctrine of the 'Golden Mean' and how it guides the development of virtuous character traits.

The Golden Mean suggests that virtue lies between two extremes: excess and deficiency. For example, courage is the mean between recklessness and cowardice. Developing virtuous traits requires finding this balance through reason, experience, and the guidance of virtuous role models. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the problem of marginal cases and how it challenges the idea that rationality is the sole basis for moral consideration.

The problem of marginal cases questions why we grant moral consideration to all humans, including infants and those with severe cognitive disabilities, while denying it to animals with similar or greater cognitive capacities. If rationality is the sole criterion, it's difficult to justify this distinction. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Norcross's 'Fred and the Puppies' argument and its implications for our moral obligations towards animals used in factory farming.

The 'Fred and the Puppies' argument compares Fred, who tortures puppies for gustatory pleasure, with consumers who support factory farming, where animals suffer for similar reasons. Norcross argues that if Fred's actions are morally wrong, then supporting factory farming is also wrong, as there's no relevant moral difference. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Support Principle' in the context of animal ethics, and how does it relate to the debate about eating meat?

The Support Principle suggests that if a cruel practice provides a good, we shouldn't support it if there are alternative ways to obtain the good. In the context of eating meat, it implies that if we can obtain food without supporting cruel factory farming practices, we are morally obligated to do so. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Peter Singer's 'Rescue Principle' and how it argues for a strong moral obligation to assist those living in poverty.

Singer's Rescue Principle states that if we can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do it. He applies this to global poverty, arguing that since we can save lives by donating to effective charities at minimal cost to ourselves, we are morally obligated to do so. Signup and view all the answers

Contrast Robert Nozick's perspective on charity with Peter Singer's, highlighting their differing views on individual liberty and moral obligation.

Nozick, a libertarian, emphasizes self-ownership and argues that we have no moral duty to help others. Charity is good, but not required. Singer, in contrast, believes we have a strong moral obligation to help those in need, even if it requires some sacrifice of our own resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'bystander effect,' and how does Singer use it to explain our collective inaction in the face of global poverty?

The bystander effect is a psychological phenomenon where people are less likely to help someone in need when others are present. Singer argues that this effect contributes to our inaction on global poverty; people assume others will help, leading to no one taking responsibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is civil disobedience, and how does it differ from uncivil disobedience?

Civil disobedience is a public, nonviolent form of protest that respects the rule of law while challenging unjust laws. Uncivil disobedience may involve more disruptive or confrontational tactics, potentially including property damage, but can still be principled if it respects basic human rights. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the 'Constraint Condition' as it relates to justified protest. How does it limit the actions that protesters can take?

The 'Constraint Condition' requires that protesters respect others' basic human interests, such as safety and freedom, even when breaking the law. Protests should minimize harm and aim for justice while upholding human dignity, setting limits on the extent of permissible disobedience. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Non-Identity Problem,' and how does it complicate our thinking about obligations to future generations?

The Non-Identity Problem arises when our present choices affect who will exist in the future. We cannot say a certain decision harmed a future person if that person would not have existed had we made a different decision. This raises questions about how to assess the moral consequences of actions when no specific individual can be identified as being harmed. Signup and view all the answers

According to Susan Wolf, what are the key components of a meaningful life, and how does it differ from a life that is merely happy or moral?

According to Wolf, a meaningful life involves actively engaging in projects of positive value with intention, contributing to something beyond oneself. This differs from mere happiness, which can be shallow, and morality, as a meaningful life can still involve flawed actions. The worthwhile project and the person's connection to it matter. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Leopold's 'Land Ethic' and how it broadens the scope of our moral considerations.

Leopold's Land Ethic expands our moral community to include nature, advocating for treating the land, animals, water, and soil with respect. This means shifting from viewing ourselves as conquerors of the land to citizens of a biotic community, promoting responsible use and long-term health of the environment. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory that focuses on acting to produce the most happiness and least harm for everyone.

Greatest Happiness Principle

Action is morally right if it leads to happiness, wrong if it leads to harm.