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Summary Utilitarianism OCR A level religious studies notes
Utilitarianism notes, covers keywords and concepts as well as highlighting the thoughts of key scholars. I am predicted to get A* and used these notes
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UTILITARIANISMPrecept- a general rule designed to regulate behaviour or thought.
Utilitarianism- doctrine that one should always seek the greatest balance of good
over evil.
Hedonism- view that the good is pleasure, and nothing else is the good.
Utility- usefulness
Teleological theory → goal is the moral good
ACT UTILITARIANISM BENTHAM
“Create all the happiness you are able to create: remove all the misery you
are able to remove”
“Greatest happiness for the greatest number which is the measure of right
and wrong”
Believed that humans were psychological hedonists ( we seek our own
pleasure)
There is a problem with the idea - how does one measure GOODNESS?
Bentham says that GOOD= PLEASURE (problem u cant have bad
pleasure)
There was no differentiation of pleasure all seen the same
Bentham turns to the HEDONIC CALCULUS
DURATION
INTENSITY
CERTAINTY
FECUNDITY ( how probable is the pleasure)
EXTENT
PROPINQUITY (how soon will it happen)
PURITY ( how unlikely the cause of pain is)
We should determine the goodness on a case by case basis.(hedonic calc).
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Democratic- everyone's pleasure is It is difficult to predict
seen in the same way consequences
Selfless-we should disregard our own People don't have the time or
preferences and act in a way that info to make calculation (e.g.
benefits society. kids)
Consequentialist- you won't get into a You have to distinguish
situ where ur ethics force you to make different pleasure
negative decision.
CRITICISMS
JOHN RAWLS
1
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