Historical Influences

• Who was an early advocate for the pursuit of pleasure with moderation?

  Aristippus
• How did Epicurus view happiness?

  He saw happiness as the ultimate good but cautioned against excess pleasure.
• What did Victorian utilitarians believe about moral actions?

  They believed moral actions maximize happiness.
• What critique does Dickens present in his work "Hard Times" regarding the pursuit of utility?

  He shows how the superficial pursuit of utility can neglect emotional well-being.
• What is the Enlightenment often referred to as?

  The Age of Reason
• What did the Enlightenment emphasize in decision-making?

  It emphasized reason and rationality.
• What principle is a hallmark of Bentham's utility principle?

  Rationalism
• How does Dickens depict characters like Thomas Gradgrind in "Hard Times"?

  He shows them as embodying rationalism but being emotionally disconnected.
• What are the consequences of the rationalism depicted by Dickens in familial relationships?

  It leads to the breakdown of familial relationships and personal fulfillment.