Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of utilitarianism?
What is the primary goal of utilitarianism?
What is the method for calculating the overall happiness generated by an action?
What is the method for calculating the overall happiness generated by an action?
Which of the following is a challenge to utilitarianism?
Which of the following is a challenge to utilitarianism?
Who is the contemporary utilitarian philosopher who applies the principles to global issues like poverty and animal welfare?
Who is the contemporary utilitarian philosopher who applies the principles to global issues like poverty and animal welfare?
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What is the distinction introduced by John Stuart Mill in utilitarianism?
What is the distinction introduced by John Stuart Mill in utilitarianism?
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What is the moral principle that evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences?
What is the moral principle that evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences?
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Study Notes
Core Principles
- Greatest Happiness Principle: The primary goal is to maximize overall happiness or well-being.
- Consequentialism: The morality of an action is determined by its consequences.
Key Concepts
-
Hedonic Calculus: A method for calculating the overall happiness generated by an action.
- Factors to consider:
- Intensity of pleasure or pain
- Duration of pleasure or pain
- Certainty or uncertainty of pleasure or pain
- Proximity or remoteness of pleasure or pain
- Fecundity ( likelihood of leading to more pleasure or pain)
- Purity (presence of other sensations)
- Factors to consider:
- Act Utilitarianism: Evaluate the morality of each individual action based on its consequences.
- Rule Utilitarianism: Evaluate the morality of a rule or principle based on its overall consequences.
Criticisms and Challenges
- Problem of Distribution: How to distribute happiness among individuals?
- Problem of Interpersonal Comparisons: How to compare happiness between individuals?
- Problem of Moral Obligations: Does utilitarianism lead to moral obligations that contradict individual moral instincts?
Famous Utilitarians
- Jeremy Bentham: Developed the concept of utilitarianism and the hedonic calculus.
- John Stuart Mill: Expanded on Bentham's ideas and introduced the distinction between higher and lower pleasures.
- Peter Singer: Contemporary utilitarian philosopher who applies the principles to global issues like poverty and animal welfare.
Applications
- Economics: Utilitarianism is used in cost-benefit analysis and welfare economics.
- Ethics: Utilitarianism is applied to moral dilemmas, such as end-of-life care and resource allocation.
- Politics: Utilitarianism informs policy decisions, such as taxation and public health initiatives.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the core principles, key concepts, and criticisms of utilitarianism, as well as its famous proponents and applications in various fields.
