E2.1 - utilitarianism

• act utilitarianism: Bentham - looks at consequences of specific acts in specific situations to see if moral
• consequentialism: the moral value of an action lies in its consequences - good if it brings about good consequences
• hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure
• hedonistic utilitarianism: we should promote the greatest amount of pleasure because it's the ultimate good. Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism are both forms of this
• ideal utilitarianism: a modern form of utilitarianism based on maximising other intrinsic goods (e.g: beauty, knowledge) as well as pleasure
• negative utilitarianism: a modern form of utilitarianism whose main focus is minimising pain and later maximising happiness
• preference utilitarianism: a modern form of utilitarianism which replaces the maximisation of pleasure with the maximum fulfilling of everyone's preferences - best interest (Singer, Hare)
• principle of utility: an action should only be performed if it causes the maximum possible happiness (utilitarianism)
• psychological hedonism: argues that pleasure is the sole good and pain the sole evil
• rule utilitarianism: Mill - should created set rules using principle of utility. Should promote higher over lower pleasures
• teleological ethics: derives moral obligation from what is good or desirable as an end to be achieved
• Hedonic calculus

  1. Fecundity 
  2. Intensity
  3. Remoteness
  4. Extent
  5. Certainty
  6. Duration
  7. Purity

  
• Hedonic calculus

  • Remoteness - long term or short term?
  • Duration - how long will the effects last?
  • Certainty - how certain is the outcome?
  • Fecundity - will the pain/pleasure produce other pains/pleasures? 
  • Purity - will the pleasure lead to pain? Will the pain lead to pleasure?
  • Extent - number of ppl affected
  • Intensity - how intense is the pain/pleasure?
• 3 strengths of Bentham's act UT:

  • Intuitive - consider outcomes + pleasure -> universal aim for pleas
  • Flexible (vs deontological ethics)
  • Doesn’t rely on belief in God (vs NML) -> apply to all, universal
• 4 criticisms of Bentham's act UT:

  • Can’t predict consequences accurately
  • Hedonic calculus difficult to apply - can’t think of all 7 things before decision, esp if things uncertain
  • No focus on quality - condones morally wrong acts - e.g. group torture
  • Too simplistic - need to take into account personal virtues, rights, responsibilities to specific ppl
  • Act A: lie; B: no lie; both same consequence - B better → shows need something else to decide
• 2 strengths of Mill's rule UT:

  • Respects ppl’s rights – harm principle
  • More difficult to justify immoral acts (vs act UT)
  • General rules, e.g. do not kill → wouldn't justify Japan bombing to end WW2
  • Quality over quantity, e.g. pleasure from torture not acceptable
• Mill: higher vs lower pleasures - “better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”