Utilitarianism Notes Essay Example for Free

Utilitarianism Notes Essay No Absolutes Morality Depends on exclusive part Happiness is the most master(prenominal) social function Quality and Quantity of Happiness need to be taken into account The Measure of Usefulness or Fittingness for purpose an action may ready teleological Ethical theories such as Utilitarianism tend to rely on the principle of utility It is the mood of measuring how useful an action is in saving ab step forward the consequences that we desire Equality The Happiness of each individual person is equally grave No Persons pleasure is more important than an otherwises You can work discover the right action mathematically. Not absolute rules solely we would all make the same decision chthonic the circumstances. No rules. rationales argon use to govern right and wrong rather than rules in Act Utilitarianism In retrieve Utilitarianism, J. S. linger introduced some beneficial rules, which acted as guidelines epicurean Principle of utility Egalitarian Hedonistic Calculus Anti-Legalistic Harm Principle Put forward by Mill to avoid restricting the license of the minority. It states that each person can do whatever they want, as long as it does not negatively impact on the freedom of other pile teleological Ethics. In order to understand Utilitarianism, you essential first study Teleological Ethics, which share many principles with Utilitarianism. Teleological Ethics is to judge whether or not an action is deterrent example by purely looking at the result or consequence of the action. This is in like manner known as Consequentialism. Teleological Ethics In Teleological Ethics, thither are no moral absolutes. Teleological Ethics only consider the consequence of an action, and disregard the motive or circumstances. Teleological Theories are consequentialist (based on consequences) Actions only have Instrumental Value, not intrinsic value.(see table below to see definitions) Problems with Teleologica l Ethics How do you decide what a morally good or bad consequence is? there are many conflicting factors We cant tell the future, we have no way of knowing what the consequences go away be The Principle of Utility Teleological Ethical theories tend to rely on the Principle of Utility This is typesetd as the measure of usefulness or fittingness for purpose an action may have A Principle of Utility is a way of measuring how useful an action is in bringing about the consequences that we desire The Principle of Utility of Utilitarianism is Happiness.This is for the following reasons It is universally valued and desirable Subjective (opinion matters) However, it is similarly open to abuse as it cannot be easily defined. This links to Hedonism Hedonism Hedonism is the belief that happiness is more important than anything else Pleasure or happiness are often interchangeable and used to mean the same thing Nature has assd mankind under the governance of two masters, hass le and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do as well as what we shall do. -David Hume Before Utilitarianism. Hume linked Utility with Happiness It is difficult to define Happiness Aristotle saw no difference between living well (flourishing) and living normally. Well world is part of the good life. This can include comfort and enjoyment Act Utilitarianism Act Utilitarianism is the earliest digit of Utilitarianism. It was first put forward by scholar Jeremy Bentham Act Utilitarianism is a Relativist theory, which means that nothing is unceasingly right or wrong and the choice of actions depend on circumstances, which allows flexibility and is intuitive. It excessively rejects God, as there is no proof as to whether or not God exists. It also rejects the Bible and religion in general. This removes the need for faith which makes it a theory that can be supported by both religious and secular people. There are no absolute rules in Act Utilitarianism, w hich means that there is no unfairness and is a more flexible theory. This makes the people more important than the rules. Act Utilitarianism uses a voluptuary Calculus to work out the right action for people to do.This creates a simple, objective, mathematical, tangible and logical way of working out what is right and wrong. It is also a Hedonistic theory, this means that happiness is more important than anything else. This is good because we all agree that happiness is good, and an objective base for morality (meaning of life) which fits in well with newfangled society. The good is that which will bring about the superior sum of pleasure and the least sum of pain for the superior number -Jeremy Bentham Hedonic Calculus. The Hedonic Calculus is a formula that can be used to work out the right action mathematically It is simple, objective, mathematical, logical and tangible. The Hedonic Calculus uses the following factors to spend a penny the presence of happiness Rule Util itarianism Rule Utilitarianism superseded Benthams Act Utilitarianism. It was put forward by scholar tooshie Stuart Mill, who had learned about Utilitarianism for most of his life, as his father James Mill was a colleague of Jeremy Bentham. Rule Utilitarianism. Mill make outd that not all forms of happiness or pleasure were of equal value, which was seemingly what Bentham was implying He also recognised that, in life, it is easy to settle for the more immediate and sensual pleasures, rather than the nobler and more straight ones. Mill goes beyond the Hedonic Calculus of Act Utilitarianism by recognising that there are many several(predicate) ways of assessing its value Mill was concerned to link his utile theory with Jesus teachings by claiming that to hit the hay your neighbour as yourself constitutes the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality. Mill also suggested a positive place for rules within an boilers suit utilitarian approach. His one rule that he introduced was known as the Harm Principle it stated that everyone should be able to do what would make them happy, unless the majority of people affected, are negatively affected. Mill stated that general rules such as the Harm Principle should be obeyed as they give overall benefit to society, but they can be broken in exceptional circumstances. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied -John Stuart Mill. loaded and timid Rule Utilitarianism Strong Rule Utilitarianism holds that one should never break a rule that is established on utilitarian principles Weak Rule Utilitarianism holds that there may be situations where breaking the rules is acceptable, in order to bring about the greatest good for the greatest number, but generally keeping the rules (eg. Telling a lie is generally wrong, but there may be circumstances where it acceptable in order to bring about the greatest good for the greatest number).Rule Utilitarianism appreciation Utilitarianism Preference Ut ilitarianism superseded Mills Rule Utilitarianism. It was put forward by several scholars, who advocated it over a period of time. They are Henry Sidgwick (1838-1900) R. M. Hare (1919-2002) Peter Singer (1946-present) Preference Utilitarianism uses Preference over Happiness or Pleasure as the Principle of Utility. Preference Utilitarianism also takes other factors into account, such as duty This means that most people would get what they wanted.Prima Facie Obligations Prima Facie At First Sight This is the idea that we do not value strangers as highly as friends or family Most of us judge morality as agent relatve, we will favour some people above others. Utilitarianism requires us to judge all people equally and not consider Prima Facie obligations This is a criticism of Utilitarianism as to abandon prima facie duties seems to go against all instinct Some people argue that people should be treated as ends in themselves and not means to an end. It is necessary for a ut ilitarian to defend against this position. motif Utilitarianism Henry Sidgwick put forward a theory of Utilitarianism which became known as Motive Utilitarianism It states an action can be considered to be good if its motive was to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number, regardless of the actual outcome (which links to Situation Ethics).