Utilitarianism Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary objection Mill addresses regarding the focus on pleasure in morality?

It overlooks the role of intellectual pleasure.

It does not consider the moral implications of actions.

It may promote hedonism as a lifestyle.

It could value all forms of pleasure equally. (correct)

Which statement reflects Mill's view on higher pleasures?

Higher pleasures are more valuable due to human intellectual and emotional capacities. (correct)

Higher pleasures are merely more abundant than lower pleasures.

All pleasures can be ranked based solely on duration.

Higher pleasures can be measured without reference to human experiences.

What distinguishes Mill's concept of pleasure from the principles of asceticism?

Mill emphasizes the importance of higher pleasures over mere sensory experiences. (correct)

Mill argues that lower pleasures are more beneficial.

Asceticism advocates for the pursuit of all pleasures equally.

Asceticism places value on sensory pleasures.

How does Mill propose measuring the quality of pleasures?

Using a preference test among competent judges. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental difference between qualitative and quantitative pleasure according to Mill?

Qualitative pleasure considers the nature of the experience beyond mere quantity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of asceticism advocate in contrast to utilitarianism?

We should maximize pain and minimize pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the principle of sympathy and antipathy?

A person's attitudes towards actions. Signup and view all the answers

In Bentham's hedonic calculus, which property addresses how long the expected pleasure will last?

Duration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does Bentham NOT consider as one of the properties to measure pleasure and pain?

Compoundness Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Mill's higher pleasures from Bentham's approach to pleasure?

Higher pleasures consider qualitative differences in pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

In utilitarian ethical theory, which statement about the ultimate good is accurate?

Ultimate good refers to pleasures of sentient creatures. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors in Bentham's calculus relates to how likely an expected pleasure is not to be followed by pain?

Purity Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of extent relate to utilitarianism according to Bentham?

It assesses the number of sentient beings affected. Signup and view all the answers

Which objection relates to the issue of taking pleasure in harmful actions such as murder?

Evil pleasures objection Signup and view all the answers

What is the concern raised by the quality objection regarding Mill's hedonism?

It implies all pleasures are morally equivalent. Signup and view all the answers

Which objection highlights the complexities of moral responsibilities beyond mere actions?

Agent-centered responsibility Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential problem with utilitarianism as indicated by counterintuitive implications?

It may suggest unjust actions can be morally justified. Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinction made in Mill's higher pleasures compared to Bentham's hedonic calculus?

Higher pleasures prioritize emotional fulfillment over physical pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle suggests that strictly adhering to rules will ultimately produce the greatest happiness?

Rule utilitarianism Signup and view all the answers

What criticism might be made against utilitarianism concerning the idea of supererogation?

It encourages individuals to act beyond the call of duty. Signup and view all the answers

Which objection targets the feasibility of achieving consensus regarding subjective pleasures?

Diversity of pleasures objection Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism: A moral philosophy that emphasizes maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain for the greatest number of people.
Two key figures: Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
Bentham: The principle of utility = maximize pleasure, everyone counts as one and no one more than one, pleasures of sentient creatures are the ultimate goods.
Mill: Argued that some types of pleasures are higher than others, and those higher pleasures come from using human's higher faculties: intellectual, emotional, moral, and imaginative.
Mill believes that higher pleasures are not comparable to lower pleasures in quantity, but in quality of that experience.
Preference test: Determine the quality of pleasure by asking competent judges: "what all, almost all, or a majority decides is the higher pleasure?"
Non-rational beings may be content or satisfied with lower pleasures.
Bentham's arguments presented as an argument by elimination: Eliminates other moral principles by showing that they are unsatisfactory.

Bentham's Hedonic Calculus

Bentham presents seven factors for calculating the amount of pleasure or pain an action will produce:
- Intensity
- Duration
- Certainty
- Remoteness
- Fecundity
- Purity
- Extent

Objections to Utilitarianism

Evil Pleasures Objection: This objection states that a murderer derives pleasure from killing, and utilitarianism would seem to justify it if it maximizes the pleasure of the killer.
Quality Objection: Does Mill's hedonism correctly account for the quality of pleasure? Can people actually distinguish between different kinds of pleasure, or is it just a matter of consensus or diversity?
Irrelevance Objection: This objection argues that utilitarianism is unable to provide a theory of the right, because it only focuses on maximizing happiness, not on right action.
Over-demandingness Objection: Utilitarianism demands too much of us, it requires constantly striving to maximize happiness for everyone.
Supererogation Objection: This objection argues that utilitarianism does not allow for supererogatory actions (actions beyond what is required by duty), because any action not maximizing happiness is considered morally wrong.
Negative Responsibility Objection: This objection states that we are responsible for the actions we take, as well as for the consequences of our inaction.
Agent-centered Responsibility Objection: This objection argues that utilitarianism does not adequately account for our special obligations to other agents, such as to our family, friends, and community.
Counterintuitive Implications Objection: This objection highlights that utilitarianism can lead to morally unjust conclusions in some situations.

Replies and Fixes to Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism vs. Rule Utilitarianism: Rule utilitarianism emphasizes following rules that will ultimately maximize happiness, whereas act utilitarianism focuses on calculating the consequences of each individual action.
This is a potential fix for the over-demandingness objection, since following rules may be less demanding than calculating the consequences of each action.

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Description

Explore the fundamental principles of utilitarianism, a moral philosophy focused on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain for the greatest number. Delve into the insights of key figures Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, and understand their differing views on the quality of pleasures.