Utilitarianism

• What is the main focus of the Utilitarianism topic in A Level Philosophy & Religious Studies?

  It is a summary of revision notes for Utilitarianism.
• What are the two versions of Utilitarianism summary notes available?

  • A*-A grade summary notes
  • B-C grade summary notes
• Who is associated with Act Utilitarianism?

  Jeremy Bentham
• According to Bentham, what is human nature in relation to pleasure?


  It is to find pleasure good, as it is the only thing we can value.
• What does the principle of utility state?


  An action is good if it maximizes pleasure.
• What does 'utility' mean in the context of Utilitarianism?


  It refers to the usefulness of an action in bringing about certain consequences.
• What is the hedonic calculus?

  It is a method to calculate how much pleasure an action will produce using seven criteria.
• What are some criteria used in the hedonic calculus?

  Intensity and duration.
• How does Mill's view on pleasures differ from Bentham's?


  Mill believes that higher pleasures are superior to lower pleasures.
• What are higher pleasures according to Mill?


  They are pleasures of the mind that have less risk of addiction and last longer.
• What is the 'harm principle' proposed by Mill?


  People should be free to do what they want as long as they are not harming others.
• What is a strength of hedonistic Utilitarianism according to Bentham and Mill?

  They argue that pleasure/happiness is good because it is human nature to find it good.
• What is Mill's proof of the greatest happiness principle?

  The only proof that happiness is desirable is that it is desired.
• What does Bentham claim about human nature regarding pleasure and pain?


  Humans are determined by their nature to find pleasure good and pain bad.
• What is Nozick's experience machine thought experiment?

  It suggests that people might choose not to plug into a machine that generates pleasurable experiences, indicating they value more than just pleasure.
• What does Nozick believe people value beyond pleasure?


  Authenticity and a connection to reality.
• How does Nozick's thought experiment challenge the principle of utility?

  If pleasure is not the sole intrinsic good, then Utilitarianism's central thesis is false.
• Why does Nozick's criticism of Utilitarianism fail?


  It misunderstands Mill's claim that valuing the happiness of others is part of valuing happiness.
• How does a parent’s happiness relate to Nozick's criticism?


  A parent may not enter the machine because their happiness depends on their child's happiness.
• What is the issue of calculation in Utilitarianism?

  Subjective mental states like pleasure and pain are difficult to measure scientifically.
• What does Kant argue regarding the consequences of actions?


  We cannot know the consequences of actions before we do them, making predictions unreliable.
• Why is Utilitarianism considered impractical according to the issue of calculation?

  It requires calculating the future utility of all possible actions, which is often impossible.
• How does Rule Utilitarianism differ from Act Utilitarianism?

  Rule Utilitarianism focuses on following rules that maximize happiness rather than calculating each action's utility.
• What did Mill realize about the hedonic calculus?

  He thought it was too impractical to calculate every single action.
• How does Mill suggest we should approach rules in society?


  We should collectively figure out which rules will maximize happiness if followed.
• What is the difference between strong and weak Rule Utilitarianism?

  Strong Rule Utilitarianism states rules should never be broken, while weak Rule Utilitarianism allows breaking rules if it maximizes happiness.
• What is a criticism of Weak Rule Utilitarianism?

  It collapses back into Act Utilitarianism, as it allows breaking rules to maximize happiness.
• What is a criticism of Strong Rule Utilitarianism?

  It becomes deontological by insisting rules should be followed even if breaking them would have good consequences.
• How does Utilitarianism relate to human rights?

  Utilitarianism cannot accept human rights as valid because it is consequentialist.
• How could Utilitarianism justify slavery?


  It could justify enslaving 10% of the population for the happiness of the other 90% as maximizing happiness.
• What example does Philippa Foot use to illustrate a flaw in Utilitarianism?


  A utilitarian doctor killing a healthy patient to save five others for organ transplants.
• How does Mill's rule utilitarianism address the justification of bad actions?


  It focuses on social rules that prevent harm to minorities, thus not justifying bad actions.
• What is the harm principle according to Mill?


  It states that people should be free to do what they want as long as they do not harm others.
• How does Mill's approach to rights differ from deontological perspectives?

  Mill argues for freedom from harm to maximize happiness, not because of intrinsic rights.
• What is the practical implication of Mill's version of Utilitarianism?

  It encourages people to act as if they have intrinsic moral value.
• How does Utilitarianism address the issue of partiality?

  Utilitarianism suggests that maximizing happiness may require acting impartially, even against personal ties.
• What is Mill's response to the issue of partiality in Utilitarianism?


  He suggests focusing on those in our lives, as most people do not have the opportunity to help many others.
• How does Singer defend Utilitarianism regarding family and friend relationships?


  He argues that these relationships bring happiness and should be valued, even if they come at a cost in some situations.
• What is the overall evaluation of Singer's defense of Utilitarianism?


  It successfully accepts that human psychology is happier with family and friend relationships.
• How does the happiness from partiality compare to the cost of not saving others?

  The happiness gained from family relationships outweighs the cost of not saving two random people.