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Teleological Approaches: Utilitarianism - Coggle Diagram
Teleological Approaches: Utilitarianism
Origin
Roots of Utilitarianism can be found in Greek philosophy
Aristotle-> Believed that a person should be virtuous (good) in order to promote a harmonious society
Epicurus-> Ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of philosophy known as Epicureanism. He believed that a good life = maximum amount of pleasure + least amount of pain
Jeremy Bentham
1748-1832 -> London based moral, political + legal philosopher <- Considered to be the founder of utilitarianism
Produced 2 pieces of work outlining his political + ethical views -> A Fragment of Government + Principles of Morals and Legislation
The Principle of Utility
Nature replaces God as the sole higher authority
'
The principle of utility aims to promote happiness which is the supreme ethical value. Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. An act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure'
Bentham
Believed all humans are motivated by a desire to experience as much pleasure as possible + avoid the experience of pain
According to
Bowie,
Bentham believed
'Good is the maximisation of pleasure and the minimisation of pain'
The Hedonic Calculus
Bentham provided the means of measuring the amount of pleasure our actions would create
7 factors- Intensity, duration, certainty, extent, remoteness, fecundity and purity
John Stuart Mill
Higher and Lower Pleasures
'Some pleasures are more desirable and valuable than others'
Mill believed there were different levels of pleasure
Higher pleasures= intellectual pleasures -> more sophisticated eg music and art
Lower pleasures= physical pleasures -> :red_cross: more than basic animal instincts eg sexual intercourse, food and water
'It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied'- Mill
Universalizability
The idea that what is right or wrong for one person is right or wrong for all
Each person desires their own happiness -> Each person ought to aim @ their happiness -> Everyone ought to aim @ the happiness of everyone
Harm Principle
Personal autonomy (free choice) = essential ingredient for a happy life
A person should be free to live as they chose as long as their actions :red_cross: harm others
Rules
Mill felt that Bentham's theory= antinomian ( :red_cross: rules) -> Believed rules were necessary to live in an ordered society
To promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number
To ensure that all members of society were protected + respected
Tell the truth is a necessary rule BUT :red_cross: moral absolutes -> Lie to someone who intends to use our information for evil purposes + lie to someone who is dangerously ill about their health <- truth might cause additional harm
Forms of Utilitarianism
Act Utilitarianism
Each situation is assessed on a individual basis
Each action is assessed on its consequences
More flexible than rule util.
Weaknesses-> Difficult to predict consequences, potential to justify any action, difficulty in defining pleasure, :red_cross: defence for minorities + reduces morality to maths <- impractical
Rule Utilitarianism
Strong
Rules that maximise the greatest happiness for the greatest number should never be broken under any circumstances
Weak
In some cases the greatest happiness for the greatest number can only be achieved by breaking the rules
Weaknesses -> To invoke rules means that the approach = deontological :red_cross: teleological + Strong Rule Utilitarianism can be irrational <- Obeying rules even when their disobedient might have resulted in greater happiness
Preference Utilitarianism
'This approach takes into account the preference of the individuals involved'
We should maximise :red_cross: pleasure :check: satisfaction of people's preferences
'Best interests' of ALL sentient creatures should be considered <- Free range eggs
Evaluation
Strengths
Straightforward theory
-> Based on a single principle <- minimise pain + maximise pleasure
:red_cross:
Dependent on acceptance of any prior religious beliefs
-> Can be adopted by people of any religion or culture
Popular theory
-> Maximising pleasure is attractive to society as a whole
Used successfully in the past
-> It has 'provided the greatest impetus to modern social reforms in the Uk'- Clarke
Health care
-> Idea of promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number is that basis of most health care systems. Care is provided to improve the health of the population <- makes the majority happy + health
Impartial observer
-> Preference Util. makes the importance of being an impartial observer when making ethical decisions -> 'Important to stand in someone else's shoes'- RM Hare
Act Util.
-> Takes a situationalist approach <- greater flexibility than other ethical theories such as NML
Weaknesses
Other goods
-> 'Happiness' is :red_cross: the only thing that is of intrinsic worth eg love, life + freedom
Mechanical
-> Reduces morality to simple maths <- loses a sense of what is truly valuable in life
Ends :red_cross: justify the means
-> You kill 1 healthy person + give their organs to 5 others <- happiness > harm supports this but we know what is right
Unpredictable
-> You :red_cross: know what is going to happen in the future <- is it right to base our ethical decisions on what may or may not happen
Justice
-> Our view of justice is that everyone is treated fairly <- Util. allows us to sacrifice individuals for the greater good <- many people would see this as unfair