...Explain how Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism may be used to decide on the right course of action. (25 marks) Utilitarianism is a teleological theory. It states that something is morally right if it produces pleasure and it’s morally wrong if it produce pain. The principle of Utility refers to the greatest amount of pleasure or happiness for the greatest number of people. According to Bentham, most moral acts are those that maximise pleasure and minimise pain. An action is correct according to Bentham if it gives higher quantity of happiness. Jeremy Bentham’s principle of utility states that ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ Bentham stated that human being is governed by two sovereign masters: pain and pleasure. By pleasure he means the benefits, advantage, goodness and happiness. By pain Bentham refers to evil and unhappiness. An example of this will be childbirth. During the period of pregnancy and throughout the labour the mother goes through different level of pain. However, the result is pleasure as baby is born. This not only brings happiness to the mother, also to a greater amount of people especially the family members. The greatest happiness is given to greatest number. Bentham said: ‘Nature has placed us under the governance of two sovereign master, pain and pleasure. An act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure.’ This approach of Bentham can be used to decide on the right course of...
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...theories that could potentially help other moral agents with the difficult and complicated task of determining what is morally right or wrong. In this paper, I will explain the fascinating ethical theory of Utilitarianism and discuss about two very influential people to Utilitarianism, who are Jeremy Bentham, and John Stuart Mill. Along with discussing their contributes to this theory, I will evaluate their personal perspective on Utilitarianism and determine which is more plausible between the two. Ultimately, by doing this I will be able to support the idea that Utilitarianism is not an overall plausible ethical theory to follow. Utilitarianism is a type ethical theory from the ethical objective theory called Consequentialism. Much like in the Consequentialism theory, where morally right and wrong decisions are completely dependent on the consequences produce by an action, morality in Utilitarianism is reliant on the utility of the consequences produced by an action. Utility in this sense means the usefulness of a consequence or the benefits the consequence brings to those all affect by the action. Utilitarians have a strong focus on doing actions that produce the most good. This is due to the principle of utility, which in Utilitarianism states that an action is right if it produces the greatest possibly utility for all those affected by the action. In other words, if an action produces the most good, pleasure, for that situation then that action is right. Unlike in other ethical...
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...Module 11 Questions 1. Explain the humorous but meaningful and important phrase of Mill: “It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”. * Mill responded by describing a different theory of happiness. Human beings have abilities more elevated than the animal appetites. You cannot measure pleasures on quantity alone, but must include quality. Since Mill has come down on the side of Socrates instead of the fool, he has separated mental pleasures, which he called “higher” pleasures, from physical pleasures, which he implies are “lower” pleasures. 2. Why does Gustafson think utilitarianism might be the ethical approach most suited for business? * Gustafson thinks utilitarianism might be the ethical approach most suited for business because it is “outcome-oriented.” It is a goal that brings about happiness and social benefit. Utilitarianism when tied to business has a method of “making decisions which are essentially expedient and concerned with making the most money possible.” 3. Now, look at the example given on pp. 80-81 - embellishing the expense report. After applying the 7 considerations criteria to help calculate how much pleasure and pain will result in the decision to cheat on the report, it is not until the final criterion that other people, the company, and society, are considered in the equation. Will cheating harm anyone else? It seems for Bentham that the act itself is unimportant...
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...Explain how Bentham’s Version of Utilitarianism may be Used to Decide on the Right Course of Action Bentham has been quoted saying ‘an act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure.’ From this; we are able to add up and compare the amount of pleasure or pain coming from each act we partake in and choose weather it is the right and good thing to do. This calculation can be done through the hedonic calculus, formed of 7 parts. The first is the intensity of the pleasure coming from the act, or the depth of pleasure. The second is the duration of the pleasure, how long it lasts – the pleasure of having a baby and so child would last longer than the pleasure of keeping the job or promotion you may loose, therefore assisting with decisions like abortion. The third is the certainty of pleasure, or uncertainty. Forth is the remoteness of the pleasure, will it directly effect you or effect people far away all over the world – like giving to charity. Then comes the chance of a succession of pleasures, this looks at the consequences of the act, questioning weather this act will continue to have good outcomes or if good could lead to bad. The sixth is the purity of pleasure, how secure the pleasure will be. The final element if the extent of the pleasure, how many people will it effect in a positive or negative way – this element reminds us of the greatest good for the greatest number of people, not just for you as an individual...
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...Jeremy Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism – Essay a) Explain how Bentham’s Utilitarianism can be used to decide the right course of action. [25] Jeremy Bentham was a British philosopher, jurist, and social reformer that developed a theory of Utilitarianism. Jeremy Bentham was particularly interested in the area of social reform during the 18th century and his theory of Utilitarianism is as a result of this passion. Bentham’s theory became to be known as Act Utilitarianism. This is because the theory was concerned with the amount of happiness and pleasure that an individual’s action causes in order to decide whether it is morally right or wrong. Utilitarianism is a teleological theory, this being as the morality is not concerned with the action itself, but rather the consequences of said action and the amount of pleasure it subsequently results in. For example, if an act results in a high amount of pleasure then it can be deemed to be morally justifiable, where as if no pleasure is created then the act would be morally unjustifiable and wrong. The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by both the pleasure in which it creates and its utility/usefulness. Bentham said that the morality of an action can be calculated by looking at the amount of pleasure it produced; as well as using what he developed as the Hedonic Calculus. The Hedonic Calculus places a numerical value on the morality of an action, this being calculated through a number of criteria that mist be given a value...
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...weakness. One can argue that it has more strengths than weaknesses, yet in my opinion, it has more weaknesses than strengths. On one hand, Utilitarianism has it strengths that back up the reasons as to why one’s action can bring about pleasure. One main strength is that it gives happiness an intrinsic value. Moreover utilitarianism seems to be in line with our intuitions that harming people is intrinsically wrong. It makes sense that the right course of action is the one that leads to the most happiness and least harm. Bentham’s theory on utilitarianism looks to the consequences of one’s actions, it also is a guarding principle that does not allow discrimination, mainly in the principle of commensurability; in other words it is an equalitarian. In addition it is also not religious; in the modern, multicultural society with a range of religious beliefs and a growing number of atheists, a secular theory is most useful. However, Mill answered a valid criticism of Bentham’s theory, that the pleasure of sadistic torturers is not good. He said the quality of pleasure was important an improvement to the theory. Utilitarianism is easy to use as it weighs up the positive and negative effects of our actions. It is straightforward because we learn to do this from...
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...Explain both the general principles of utilitarianism and the distinctive features of Mill's utilitarianism Utilitarianism says that the result or the consequence of an act is the real measure of whether it is good or bad. This theory emphasizes ends over means. It is therefore, a teleological or deontological ethics theory. Teleological ethics determines whether an action is right or wrong depending on the consequence or end result. Deontological, on the other hand, is when the actions are intrinsically right or wrong due to an absolute law and the outcome doesn’t matter, even if it is good. The theory of utilitarianism was devised by Jeremy Bentham, the English philosopher (1748-1832). He was born in London during the big time of the great scientific and social change. Jeremy Bentham wrote The Principles of Morals and Legislation. This is where he presented the ethical theory. This theory can be divided into three parts: 1. His view on what drove human beings, and what goodness and badness was all about. 2. The principle of utility, which is his moral rule. 3. The hedonic calculus, which is his system for measuring how good or bad a consequence is. Bentham claimed that human beings were motivated by pleasure and pain. This is why he can be called a hedonist. In Principles of Morals and Legislation, he said, ‘nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as...
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...Explain both the general principles of utilitarianism and the distinctive features of rule utilitarianism. (30 marks) In the following essay in order to illustrate the general principles of Utilitarianism; I will first introduce the general principles of Utilitarianism as a theory used by many, then secondly I will explain the principles of rule utilitarianism by Mill. Finally I sum up both the principles and rule of utilitarianism. Teleological ethics is one of the principles on which Utilitarianism is based. They focus on the consequences/result which any action might have. Thus, in order to make correct moral choices, we have to have some understanding of what will result from our choices. When we make choices which result in the correct consequences, then we are acting morally; when we make choices which result in the incorrect consequences, then we are acting immorally. A deontological approach is the opposite to this because it focuses on the act itself. Utilitarianism is an example of a teleological theory because an action's morality is based on whether its consequence brings the Greatest Happiness. This Greatest Happiness Principle or the Principle of Utility, or the ‘The greatest happiness for the greatest number’ is the main principle of a number of ethical theories that fall under the umbrella of ‘Utilitarianism’. It was Jeremy Bentham who first developed these general principles into fully articulated theory. It was he who introduced the principle of...
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...John Stuart Mills a famous utilitarian obeyed Bentham’s idea of utilitarianism but he redefined this to iron out these objections and make the theory more acceptable to the Victorian middle classes. His father was a friend of Bentham’s and, like Bentham he was preciously bright, he was reading Greek by the age of three and by the age of ten he had read all the classical authors usually required of undergraduates. Unlike other Victorians he argued strongly for equal rights for women. As well as being one of the most important of all moral philosophers, then, Mill is also one of the great political theorists, and still valued by many as the father of modern political liberalism. Mill’s theory originates from only part of Bentham’s theory which states that utilitarianism is a teleological theory, which involves looking at the future effects or consequences of an action, which therefore implies that it is the consequences which are right or wrong, not the actions or motives. This means that an action should be chosen because it creates the right consequences and not the wrong ones. Mill also agrees with the idea of hedonism, which refers to the idea that naturally everybody experiences pleasure or pain. It claims that pleasure should be maximised as it is intrinsically good where as pain is intrinsically bad and therefore should be minimised. In addition to this the principle of Utility, also an idea of Bentham’s, judges an action by how useful it is in bringing about good consequences...
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...au/stable/3053466 2. .) In all societies certain kinds of behaviour are either encouraged or discouraged by a set of social rules, from mild discouragers such as frowns of disapproval to applause of approval. Behaviours that infringe upon the happiness of others or their property or the general wellbeing of those within the community were discouraged with stronger means such as verbal abuse, beatings and banishment. (Allen and Simonsen, 1998) 3. Theorists such as von Hentig of the early 1900’s proposed that Bentham’s theory of deterrence was invalid due to the fact that the pleasure of committing a crime is a “near object” whereas the consequence of crime imposed by the legal system is a “long-distance danger” and is unable to counteract the immediate rewards of crime. (Paternoster, 2010, p773) HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT CRIMINAL DETERRENCE? Paternoster, Raymond Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology; Summer 2010; 100, 3; ProQuest Central pg. 765 Bentham's Utilitarian Critique of the Death Penalty Hugo Adam Bedau The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1973-), Vol. 74, No. 3 (Autumn, 1983), pp. 1033-1065 Published by: Northwestern University Article DOI: 10.2307/1143143 Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/stable/1143143...
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...produces pleasure and it’s morally wrong if it produce pain. The principle of Utility refers to the greatest amount of pleasure or happiness for the greatest number of people. According to Bentham, most moral acts are those that maximise pleasure and minimise pain. An action is correct according to Bentham if it gives higher quantity of happiness. Jeremy Bentham’s principle of utility states that ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ Bentham stated that human being is governed by two sovereign masters: pain and pleasure. By pleasure he means the benefits, advantage, goodness and happiness. By pain Bentham refers to evil and unhappiness. An example of this will be childbirth. During the period of pregnancy and throughout the labour the mother goes through different level of pain. However, the result is pleasure as baby is born. This not only brings happiness to the mother, also to a greater amount of people especially the family members. The greatest happiness is given to greatest number. Bentham said: ‘Nature has placed us under the governance of two sovereign master, pain and pleasure. An act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure.’ This approach of Bentham can be used to decide on the right course of action as it considers an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number. This approach can be used to explain death of Jesus the only Son of God. For God so loved the world that...
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...At what point do we begin to ask for ratification of the Second Amendment. Going forward, this paper will discuss the constitutional right to bear arms and the philosophical beliefs of John Stewart Mill’s “On Liberty” and Jeremy Bentham’s “Principle of Utility” as to why gun control should be strengthened in order to promote the safety of society. Americans most frequent modes of gaining knowledge comes through the fingertips of hand-held devices via social media, the internet, and television; which seem to persistently cover any and all forms of gun abuse. The on slot of coverage has provided society with the information necessary to question contemporary practices when it comes to gun control. Furthermore, activist in support of firming gun control are jubilant even euphoric about the mass media exposure. “Complete or total” gun control is not feasibly possible to achieve...
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...Explain the main features of the theory of Utilitarianism The theory of Utilitarianism takes its name from the Latin word Utilis, meaning ‘useful’. It was first developed by Jeremy Bentham, a philosopher and legal theorist of the 18th century. Bentham sought to produce a modern and rational approach to morality which would suit the changing society of the industrial age. Utilitarianism may be regarded as a relativist and teleological system of ethics, prescribing no fixed moral rules and judging an action by its consequences or end result (Greek: telos). Bentham argued that one should maximise happiness for the majority, ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ a view which is known as the ‘Utility Principle’. Happiness was thus equated with moral goodness. Good is seen by Bentham as the maximisation of pleasure and minimisation of pain or Happiness=pleasure-pain. This idea further identifies Bentham as a ‘psychological hedonist’, since he regarded humans as being primarily motivated by pleasure and the avoidance of pain. A contented society would be a good society. In assessing the consequences of actions, Utilitarianism relies upon a theory of intrinsic value: something is held to be good in itself, apart from further consequences, and all other values are believed to derive their worth from their relation to this intrinsic good as a means to an end. Bentham and Mill analysed happiness as a balance of pleasure over pain and believed that these feelings alone are...
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...Utilitarianism – Revision Possible questions: Explain the theory: Describe and explain the main principles of Utilitarianism (or specific features e.g. Mill’s Utilitarianism) Explain the main differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism (or other variants) Apply the theory: Explain a Utilitarian approach to issues raised by fertility treatment (or any other issue) Evaluate the theory: Explain the main strengths of a Utilitarian ethical system (or e.g. Bentham’s Utilitarianism) What are Utilitarianism’s main weaknesses? To what extent is Utilitarianism a useful method of making decisions about euthanasia? (or any other issue) Explain the theory: The principle of utility (teleological, consequentialist) Bentham (Hedonism, Hedonic Calculus, quantitative) Mill (qualitative, higher/lower pleasures, individual sovereignty) Act/Rule Utilitarianism Preference Utilitarianism (Hare, Singer) and other advances Evaluate the theory: Strengths Makes the world a better place (Bentham/Mill were reformers who made positive changes) Practical and useful (this is the way lottery money is distributed or hospital budgets are spent) and easy to use Flexible – allows for the fact that people find happiness in different ways in other societies Overcomes problems inherent in deontological ethics (what do you do if two rules clash?) Easy to apply, and intuitive – if it upsets people, don’t do it, but why is it wrong if no one gets hurt? Fair – treats everyone’s...
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...Utilitarianism ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● 1. Introduction Utilitarianism is one of the most powerful and persuasive approaches to normative ethics in the history of philosophy. Though not fully articulated until the 19th century, proto-utilitarian positions can be discerned throughout the history of ethical theory. Though there are many varieties of the view discussed, utilitarianism is generally held to be the view that the morally right action is the action that produces the most good. There are many ways to spell out this general claim. One thing to note is that the theory is a form of consequentialism: the right action is understood entirely in terms of consequences produced. What distinguishes utilitarianism from egoism has to do with the scope of the relevant consequences. On the utilitarian view one ought to maximize the overall good — that is, consider the good of others as well as one's own good. The Classical Utilitarians, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, identified the good with pleasure, so, like Epicurus, were hedonists about value. They also held that we ought to maximize the good, that is, bring about ‘the greatest amount of good for the greatest number’. Utilitarianism is also distinguished by impartiality and agent-neutrality. Everyone's happiness counts the same. When one maximizes the good, it is the good impartially considered. My good count for no more than anyone else’s good. Further, the reason I have to promote the overall good is the same...
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