A02

• HEDONIC CALCULUS

  Utilitarianism seems to require that we know the future


  Predicting the future is extremely difficult - we have to know the possibility of every outcome that could happen

  This could result in complex calculations with little time
• HEDONIC CALCLUS

  Requires the objective measuring of mental states (pleasure) - there is no objective way to measure the pleasure and pain of someone's experience
• HEDONIC CALCULUS - RESPONSE

  Bentham claims that we can have a reasonable idea of consequences based on similar things happening in the past.

  You can measure pain objectively - doctors often ask patients to tell them their pain level out of 10
• RULE

  No need for difficult calculations as we only need to know the secondary principles that society already has through their efforts and experience
• RULE

  Society can be progressive and should assess and improve its rules - therefore in principle continue to work better and make more happiness for greater numbers
• TIME

  Many argue that there isnt the time for calculations but people can use utilitarianism to know their actions before hand

  "This is exactly as if any one were to say that it is impossible to guide our conduct by Christianity, because there is not time, to read through the Old and New Testaments. there has been ample time, namely, the whole past duration of the human species"
• JUSTIFIES BAD ACTIONS

  Sadistic guards

  Bentham argues that utili seeks to maximise happiness, meaning for everyone, so that the guards 'more' pleasure is still not a moral action as it is not happiness for all

  But what if we have limited resources and cannot maximise the pleasure for everyone?
• INTENTIONS

  Intentions are not considered, meaning that the result of a stabbing being a rush to hospital and discovery of a tumour can be seen as a good action as it found the tumour.

  However Mill argues that a person's character and intentions do matter as it will determine their future actions - the stabber should be arrested to prevent more stabbings
• IN PRACTICE

  It is practically impossible to expect people to act in the way utilitarianism wants, even if we admitted it was right in theory.

  If you were in a burning building and had a choice between saving a child and an expensive painting - many would choose child, but following utility, it would suggest the painting as we can sell it and save hundreds of children