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Questions and Answers
What is the main principle of utilitarianism, as described in the text?
What is the main principle of utilitarianism, as described in the text?
- The importance of following strict moral rules.
- The need for individual freedom and autonomy.
- The pursuit of happiness for the greatest number of people. (correct)
- The inherent goodness of all living things.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian thought?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian thought?
- Advocacy for a system of penal management called Panopticon.
- Belief in the qualitative difference between pleasures. (correct)
- Development of a framework for calculating pleasure and pain called Felicific Calculus.
- Emphasis on the principle of utility as the subjection of pleasure and pain.
What is the main difference between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's utilitarian models?
What is the main difference between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's utilitarian models?
- Bentham believed in a quantitative approach to happiness, while Mill believed in a qualitative approach. (correct)
- Bentham was more concerned with legal rights, while Mill was more concerned with moral rights.
- Bentham focused on individual happiness, while Mill focused on societal happiness.
- Bentham prioritized pleasure over pain, while Mill prioritized pain over pleasure.
What is the significance of the "Principle of the Greatest Number" in utilitarianism?
What is the significance of the "Principle of the Greatest Number" in utilitarianism?
Which of the following best describes how utilitarianism applies to justice and moral rights?
Which of the following best describes how utilitarianism applies to justice and moral rights?
What is the relationship between legal rights and moral rights in utilitarianism?
What is the relationship between legal rights and moral rights in utilitarianism?
How does utilitarianism potentially address the issue of selfish acts?
How does utilitarianism potentially address the issue of selfish acts?
Why might someone argue that utilitarianism is a more practical ethical theory than other theories?
Why might someone argue that utilitarianism is a more practical ethical theory than other theories?
Flashcards
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism
An ethical theory that advocates for actions based on their usefulness and contribution to overall happiness.
Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham
A prominent utilitarian thinker known for the 'greatest happiness' principle and the concept of panopticon.
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
A utilitarian thinker who argued that quality of pleasure is more important than quantity.
Principle of Utility
Principle of Utility
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Felicific Calculus
Felicific Calculus
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Principle of the Greatest Number
Principle of the Greatest Number
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Justice
Justice
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Moral Rights
Moral Rights
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Study Notes
Utilitarianism Overview
- Utilitarianism is an ethical theory emphasizing pleasure and right behavior based on the usefulness of the action's consequences.
- "Utility" refers to the usefulness of an action and its consequence.
Utilitarianism Objectives
- Discuss basic principles of utilitarian ethics.
- Differentiate between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's utilitarian models.
- Apply utilitarianism to local and international scenarios.
Two Foremost Utilitarian Thinkers
- Jeremy Bentham:
- Born February 15, 1748.
- Teacher of James Mill.
- Father of John Stuart Mill.
- One of the two most prominent utilitarian thinkers.
- Pioneered the concept of 'greatest happiness principle' in ethics.
- Known for the panopticon, a system of penal management.
- John Stuart Mill:
- Born May 20, 1806.
- Son of James Mill and a disciple of Jeremy Bentham.
- Argued that quality of pleasure is more important than quantity (unlike Bentham).
- Questioned whether a human would choose animalistic pleasure over a life fulfilling human potential.
Key Principles
- Two Sovereign Masters: Pleasure and Pain
- Principle of Utility: Focuses on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain for the greatest number of people.
- Felicific Calculus: A framework to calculate the pleasure and pain likely to result from actions.
Principle of the Greatest Number
- Utilitarianism prioritizes the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people affected by an action's consequences.
Utilitarianism's Implications
- Utilitarianism does not support selfish acts.
- It aims to achieve the best consequences for the most people.
- It considers justice and moral rights, linking them to society's pursuit of the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
- Legal rights are subject to exceptions; moral rights are prioritized when leading to greater overall happiness.
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