UTILITARIANISM

♥Teleological – it is the end or goal of moral action, not the act itself, that is good or of value

♥Consequentialist – moral judgements based on outcome

          ♥Hedonistic – humans desire pleasure and seek to avoid pain

Bentham (ACT- each situation should be assessed separately), quantitative:

• The principle of Utility; theory of usefulness- greatest happiness for greatest number

          •Moral acts are those that maximize pleasure and minimize pain

Hedonic Calculus:

REMOTENESS

PURITY

RICHNESS

INTENSITY

CERTAINTY

EXTENT

DURATION

Mill (RULE), Qualitative:

Higher and lower pleasures – ‘Better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfies; Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied’

Mill is often associated with Rule utilitarianism – “Act in accordance with those rules which, if generally followed, would provide the greatest general balance of pleasure over pain.”

Preference Utilitarianism: Peter Singer:

Take view of impartial spectator and look at what is in the best interests of all those affected

Our own preferences cannot count any more than the preferences of others

The best possible consequences means what is in the best interests of the individuals concerned. Everyone's preferences/interests are weighed equally.

Racism is wrong as it goes against the principle of acknowledging other people's interests/preferences and gives greater value to the preferences of one's own race.

Hare – preferences: the morally right action is the one that maximizes that satisfaction of the preferences of all those involved.

         Sidgwick – motives: it is the motive (intending to bring about the greatest good) rather than the           outcome that is good

Strengths:

♥Straightforward as it is based on single principle of minimising pain and maximising pain

Relates to actions observed in the real world (cruelty is bad= pain, giving to charity for those unfortunate= increases pleasure

♥Consequentialism- natural when acting to weigh up consequences

♥Acceptance of universal principle is essential for ethical system- important to go beyond own personal point of view

♥Idea of promoting well-being of greatest number is important- bases of healthcare system

♥Preference U. gives valuable principle of being impartial observer as it is important to think about other's interest/preferences

♥Largest amount of people benefit (act)

♥It is applicable to real-life situations because it doesn’t generalise and recognises the complexity of life.

Weaknesses:

♥Consequences can be difficult to predict with accuracy (no certainty)

♥Ignores importance of duty (Act may be right or wrong regardless of the amount of pleasure/pain it produces)

♥Advoation of injustice: somebody may be condemned with something wrongly to please the masses

Allow evil majority to prevail over good minority and exploitation of minority groups. What if "minority" is 49%??

Doesn't consider motives/intentions- rejects principle of treating people with intrinsic value

Too impersonal and doesn't consider rights of human individuals