Utilitarianism

• What is the definition of utilitarianism?

  Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that states the most moral action is the one that maximizes overall well-being or happiness for the greatest number of people.
• What does consequentialism mean in the context of utilitarianism?

  Consequentialism means judging the morality of an action based on its outcomes rather than the action itself.
• What are the key points of utilitarianism?

  - Ethical framework for decision-making - Focuses on consequences of actions - Aims to maximize overall well-being or happiness - Considers the greatest good for the greatest number
• In the example of choosing between two policies, which policy would a utilitarian likely choose?

  A utilitarian would likely choose Policy A, which makes 100 people very happy but 10 people slightly sad.
• What is the Greatest Happiness Principle in utilitarianism?

  The Greatest Happiness Principle states that actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite of happiness.
• How is happiness defined in the context of utilitarianism?

  - Happiness is defined as pleasure and the absence of pain - The goal is to maximize overall happiness or well-being - Considers the happiness of all affected parties - Aims for the greatest good for the greatest number of people
• In the context of education, how might a utilitarian approach support free school meals?

  A utilitarian approach might support free school meals because it increases overall well-being by improving student health and academic performance.
• What is the significance of Jeremy Bentham in utilitarianism?

  Jeremy Bentham is considered the founder of utilitarianism and developed the principle of utility.
• What concept did John Stuart Mill introduce to utilitarianism?

  John Stuart Mill introduced the concept of higher and lower pleasures.
• How do act and rule utilitarianism differ?

  Act utilitarianism evaluates individual actions based on their consequences, while rule utilitarianism focuses on moral rules that lead to the greatest good if followed.
• What are the characteristics of act utilitarianism?

  - Evaluates the morality of an individual action based on its consequences - Asks: "What will produce the most good in this specific situation?" - More flexible but can be more demanding to apply
• What are the characteristics of rule utilitarianism?

  - Focuses on establishing moral rules that lead to the greatest good - Asks: "What rule would produce the most good if everyone followed it?" - More practical for everyday use but can lead to suboptimal outcomes in specific situations
• In the example of lying, how would act and rule utilitarianism differ in their approach?

  An act utilitarian might justify lying if it leads to a better outcome, while a rule utilitarian might argue against lying because a general rule against lying leads to better outcomes overall.
• What is the main difference between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism?

  Act utilitarianism evaluates individual actions for their specific outcomes, while rule utilitarianism focuses on general rules that lead to the greatest happiness if followed by everyone.
• What are the two main types of utilitarianism?

  - Act Utilitarianism: - Evaluates each action separately - Asks if the specific action creates the most happiness - Rule Utilitarianism: - Establishes general rules to follow - Asks what rules would create the most happiness if universally followed
• In the context of telling a lie, how would an act utilitarian approach the situation?

  An act utilitarian would consider whether that specific lie would create more happiness in that moment.
• How would a rule utilitarian view the act of lying?

  A rule utilitarian would argue that lying is generally wrong because if everyone lied, it would lead to worse outcomes for society.
• What is a criticism of utilitarianism regarding measuring happiness?

  One criticism is the difficulty in accurately quantifying and comparing different people's happiness.
• How does utilitarianism potentially conflict with individual rights?

  Utilitarianism might justify violating individual rights for the greater good, prioritizing overall happiness over personal rights.
• What is the challenge of balancing short-term and long-term consequences in utilitarianism?

  It can be difficult to determine which actions will yield the best outcomes in both the short and long term.
• What does the term "tyranny of the majority" refer to in the context of utilitarianism?

  It refers to the potential for utilitarianism to justify actions that benefit the majority at the expense of minority rights.
• How does utilitarianism neglect intentions in moral evaluations?

  Utilitarianism focuses solely on the consequences of actions, potentially ignoring the moral value of the intentions behind those actions.
• What is an example of a scenario that illustrates a criticism of utilitarianism?

  A hospital secretly harvesting organs from one healthy patient to save five others illustrates a potential problem with utilitarian thinking.
• What is a valid criticism of utilitarianism regarding individual rights?

  A valid criticism is that it might justify sacrificing an individual's rights for the benefit of the majority.
• Which scenario could be used to criticize utilitarianism?

  A society deciding to enslave a small minority to improve the living standards of the majority illustrates a criticism of utilitarianism.