A Level AQA Philosophy - Moral
Philosophy June 2024 Exam Questions
and Answers
Arete - Answer>> An 'excellence', or more specifically, a 'virtue'
- a quality that aids the fulfilment of a thing's ergon (Aristotle).
Utility - Answer>> The net balance of pleasure over pain.
Hedonism - Answer>> The pursuit of pleasure. The good is
pleasure.
Consequentialism - Answer>> What makes an action right or
wrong is the consequences it brings about. Utilitarianism is an
example.
The Principle of Utility - Answer>> The view that an act is right if
it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Equality - Answer>> Everybody is morally equal.
Impartiality - Answer>> We should consider the interests of
each person fairly in all situations.
Sentience - Answer>> The capacity to feel pleasure and pain.
Bentham's Quantitative Hedonism - Answer>> Only the total
amount of utility counts. All pleasures are EQUALLY valuable.
Mill's Qualitative Hedonism - Answer>> Higher pleasures of the
mind have more value than lower pleasures.
,Act Utilitarianism - Answer>> Assesses each separate act
according to whether it maximises pleasure over pain NOW.
Rule Utilitarianism - Answer>> We should assess situations on
the basis of whether the acts we are considering are compatible
with moral rules which increase utility in the LONG RUN.
Preference Utilitarianism - Answer>> Adopted by Peter Singer,
argues that we should seek always the good we would rationally
prefer rather than simply our selfish desires or
pleasure/happiness.
The Motivation of Humans (Bentham) - Answer>> Nature has
given humans two sovereigns; Pleasure and pain. These dictate
our decisions.
Psychological Hedonism - Answer>> Bentham takes it as a self
evident fact that humans are governed by the pursuit of pleasure
and the avoidance of pain.
The Hedonic Calculus - Answer>> A theoretical system for
calculating the amount of pain or pleasure generated. No one
type of pleasure is better than another so it is measured based on
intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, richness ad purity.
What is the good? (Bentham) - Answer>> Happiness
Higher and Lower pleasures - Answer>> Higher pleasures of
the mind are worth more and lower pleasures of the body are
worth less. Qualified judges who are familiar with both always
regard higher pleasures as worth more than lower ones.
, Mill's proof of Utilitarianism - Answer>> 1. The only proof that
an object is visible is if people actually see it
2. The only proof that sound is audible is if people actually hear it
3. Something is desirable if people desire it
4. Each person desires their own happiness.
5. Each persons happiness is a good to that person
6. Each persons happiness is good to all persons
Mill's quote on higher and lower pleasures - Answer>> 'it is
better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied, better to be
a Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.'
Nozick's Experience Machine (against util) - Answer>> If
humanity is truly hedonistic it will use the machine which
simulates 100% happiness. And yet, most people don't want to.
Tyranny of the Majority (against util) - Answer>> Act Util ignores
the minority. Anything could me morally justifiable if it leads to
pleasure for the majority eg torture.
The issue of partiality and relationships (against util) -
Answer>> Act Util wants us to be impartial, but in reality we
almost always want to be partial to our loved ones.
Problems with using the Hedonic Calculus (against util) -
Answer>> For one, what counts as pleasure is extremely
subjective. Secondly, the HC is time consuming and complicating,
which makes it difficult to apply consistently.
Utilitarianism ignores integrity and intentions (against util) -
Answer>> Eg; George has a PhD in Chemistry and he is anti
chemical weapons. He has a family to support and cannot find a
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