This is an A Level Utilitarianism Revision Map that has all the information need for this section of the ethics paper. It is a SUMMARY of the Utilitarianism topic in the A Level OCR specification (it is an overview, in depth analysis is detailed on my essay plans). It has been condensed into a colo...
a LEVEL
UTILITARIANISM
PHILOSOPHY
UTILITY
& ETHICS HIGHER & LOWER PLEASURES
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory. Utilitarians
Higher pleasures are things such as poetry and music; lower
argue that everyone should do the thing that produces the
pleasures are things such as eating and drinking. John Stuart Mill
most ‘useful’ end.The principle of utility is often expressed
even said that it is ‘better to be a human being dissatisfied
as ‘the greatest good of the greatest number’.’Good’ is
rather than being a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates
defined in terms of pleasure of happiness – so an act is
dissatisfied than a fool satisfied’. Mill felt that we should aim not
right or wrong according to the good or bad that results
for pleasure but for happiness - the general happiness of society.
from the act and the good act is the most pleasurable.
BENTHAM
RULE UTILITARIANISM
Jeremy Bentham developed his ethical system around the idea of pleasure and it is
based on ancient hedonism which pursued physical pleasure and avoided physical Rule Utilitarian’s follow accepted laws that lead to the greatest overall
pain. According to Bentham, the most moral acts are those that maximise balance of good over evil or pleasure over pain. In Rule Utilitarianism, moral
pleasure and minimise pain.Happiness=Pleasure minus pain.Bentham offers us a actions are those which conform to the rules that lead to the greatest
guide on how we should measure the amount of pleasure and pain an action brings good. For example, we do not need to use the hedonic calculus to work out
to maximise happiness.Bentham’s calculus says that the pains and pleasures of that giving money to the poor is right because it is a well worked rule of
each individual act are to be taken equally; no one is more important than anyone Utilitarianism. Weak Rule Utilitarianism, states that on certain occasions
else. the rules can be disobeyed if a greater amount of happiness will result.
ACT UTILITARIANISM HEDONIC CALCULUS
The Hedonic Calculus is one of the central ideas of Bentham's Act
Act Utilitarian’s calculate the consequences of each situation individually. Jeremy
Utilitarianism. Created by combining hedonism, (the pursuit of pleasures and
Bentham thought that previous experiences did not always help us make moral
avoidance of pains) and democracy (majority rule) the hedonic calculus is
choices and that each situation was different, and so it should be calculated afresh.
used to evaluate how much pleasure or pain would be caused by an action.
Act utilitarianism is flexible since the same act might in some situations produce the
The calculus consists of 7 parts: Duration, Intensity, Certainty,
greatest good for the greatest number, but in other situations it does not , so it
Remoteness, Fecundity, Purity and Extent.
allows moral rules to change from age to age and from situation to situation.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Main strengths of Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism seems to be in line with our intuition Main weaknesses of Utilitarianism: Happiness is not the only thing that is of intrinsic
that harming people is intrinsically wrong. It seems to make sense that the right worth. For example, love, human life, freedom can be said to have intrinsic worth.
course of action is often the one that leads to the most happiness and the least Additionally, it is questionable whether the ends can justify the means simply by
harm. Also, weighing up the positive and negative effects of our actions is calculating the greatest good for the greatest number. Imagine I killed one healthy
straightforward – we learn to do this from our early childhood onwards. Anyone person and gave their organs to save 5 others. The balance of happiness over harm
can apply the principle of utility and it is universal- it applies to anyone in every supports doing this, but we know that it is not right. Also, can we really assign a
culture. value to happiness or pleasure?
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