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Utilitarianism - Coggle Diagram
Utilitarianism
Act utilitarianism
basic principle
we should act according to which, in any situation, would lead to the greatest good for the greatest number
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strengths
uses numbers and calculation, definitive answer
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weaknesses
lack of intrinsic value to any actions, and focus purely on the consequences potentially justifies abhorrent acts
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issues with calculation: it is not always easy or practicle to use the hedonic calculus in every sigtuation, rules are much easier to follow
response: Bentham is not saying we should use the calculation all the time, just as a guidance
pleasure is not the be all and end all, we have other motivations behind our actions which are not purely hedonistic
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Rule utilitarianism
basic principle
act according to that rule which would, if followed in every situation, would lead to the greatest good for the greatest number
we should follow rules which tend to produce the greatest happiness, rather than just only judging it off of singular acts themselves
strengths
solves problem of the tyranny of the majority, as individual acts are no longer whats judged, instead it is what tends to produce the most happiness, which prevents acts e.g child abuse for the pleasure of 5 people v 1, as more people are happy that children are protected, leading to the greatest happiness overall
solves issues of practicality: no longer need to use the hedonic calculus in every situation, can use quicker, and easier to follow, rule
allows for partiality: will produce the greatest happiness overall if people are allowqed to choose their family
weaknesses
Whilst allowing for partiality, it is still missing the point of partiality, which is protecting family because they are family, not because you are producing the greatest happiness e.g if you saved you wife over a stranger from drowning, and them told them you were following the rule which would overall produce the greatest happiness, they would be unhappy
Smart's objection
If there is a situaton where not following the rule would lead to the greatest happiness, there is no reason for me to follow the rule. Ends up amounting to something more akin to kantian ethics rather than utilitarianism, becomes 'rule worship'. The opposite of 'follow the rule' is not 'never follow the rule' but instead 'sometimes follow the rule'.
Rule utilitarian response: in these situations, we amend the rule to allow for this exception
Smart/David Lyons response: life is complicated, meaning there will eventually end up being so many situations which require exceptions, meaning there are so many amendments to the rules, that we end up just judging the situation on what will lead to the greatest happiness in this situation, which is 'extensionally equivalent' to act utilitarianism
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