Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Utilitarianisim
- ACT UTILITARIANISM
- JEREMY BENTHAM
- Began theory of Utilitarianism to work out how
good/bad the consequences of an action would be.
- Principle of Utility = theory of
usefulness - 'the greatest good for the
greatest number'.
- Theory is quantitative (focuses on
the majority).
- Moral acts should maximise pleasure and
minimise pain. Happiness = pleasure minus pain.
- HEDONIC CALCULUS = a way of
'measuring' the consequences of
an action/the pleasure it would
bring. Had 7 elements:
- INTENSITY of
pleasure.
- DURATION of
pleasure.
- CERTAINTY of
pleasure.
- EXTENT of
pleasure.
- PROPINQUITY of
pleasure (how
near/far).
- PURITY of pleasure.
- FECUNDITY of pleasure
(how continuous).
- WEAKNESSES
- Difficult to predict
consequences.
- Can potentially justify any
act.
- Difficult to define pleasure.
- Doesn't protect the minority.
- RULE UTILITARIANISM
- JOHN STUART MILL
- Greatest Happiness Principle = actions are right
if they promote happiness. By happiness is
intended pleasure and the absence of pain.
- Theory is qualitative as it
focuses on the quality of
the pleasure.
- Intellectual, spiritual and
cultural pleasures are better
than physical ones.
- 'Beter to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool
satisfied'.
- Establishing general rules that
follow utilitarian principles.
- Should produce the greatest happiness if
followed universally.
- WEAKNESSES
- Difficult to predict consequences.
- Invoking rules means it becomes deontological.
- PREFERENCE
UTILITARIANISM
- Moral actions are right according
to how they fit the preferences
involved.
- R.M.HARE
- Need to consider own
preference and that of others.
- 'Equal preferences count
equally, whatever their content.'
- Should 'stand in someone else's shoes'.
- Treat everyone impartially.
- PETER SINGER
- Should take the viewpoint of
an IMPARTIAL SPECTATOR,
- 'Our own preferences cannot
count any more than the
preferences of others'.
- Best possible consequences = what's in the
best interest of those involved.
- Teleological
approach - moral
actions are right/wrong
according to their
outcome.
- Consequentialist
theory -
someone
decides whether
actions are
good/bad by
their
consequences.
- Hedonistic theory as 'good' is defined in
terms of happiness and pleasure.
- STRENGTHS
- Straightforward - based on single principle of
minimising pain/maximising pleasure.
- Promotes the well-being of the greatest number.
- Applicable in real life situations.
- Seems natural to follow - natural to weigh up consequences.
- WEAKNESSES
- Doesn't protect the minority.
- Can advocate justice.
- Difficult to predict consequences.
- People define 'pleasure' and 'happiness' in different ways.