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BENTHAM ACT UTILITARIANISM - Coggle Diagram
BENTHAM
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ABOUT BENTHAM
social reformer
recognised socirty problems from the imbalance of rich and poor.
dedicated life to resolving inblance of is importnt within politics and moral philosophy
4 BASIC PREMESIS
PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED TO SEAK PLEASURE AND AVOID PAIN "nature has placed mankind under the goverenance of 2 soverign masters pain and pleasure
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ETHICAL NATRALIST sees good and bad as natually occuring in the material world
morally good = bring pleasure
morally bad = bring pain
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TELEOLOGICAL must consider consequesnces of acrtions to determine its morality
NO morals = absolute
what is best for one situation may not be best for another
SOCIAL CONSIOUS
everyone has equal right to happiness
opposed privilege
right thing = max pleasure for max number of people
HEDONIC CALCULUS pleasure calculator uses a set of principles to to help people consider what bring the most pleasure for the majority
partially helpful in a governmental context
Bentham was considering whole governments not just individuals
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PROPINQUITY (remoteness) more imediate in space or time the anticipated pleaure the more relevent it is to the decion
FECUNDITY (production) pleasure that leads to more pleasure = better then pleasure that doesn't lead to more
pain that leads to more pain = worsts then pain that doesn't lead to more pain
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J S MILL
RULE UTILITARIANISM mill agreed with Bentham's utility principle, suggested additional rules, created a hybrid theory, maximise pleasure while also maintaining rules in society. eg- stealing and murder is wrong and should be avoided wherever possible
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PLEASURES
suggested it is better to pursuer intellectual pleasures such as reading and classical music over lower pleasures such a sex and over eating.
give more guidance on what acceptable pleasures are
SEEK PLEASURE AND AVOID PAIN
part of human motivation
moral fact
pain and pleasure identify as right and wrong
AVANATAGES
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
evidence can be presented to justify moral choices.
clear principle of utility - framework makes it easy to apply
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DISADVANTAGES
TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS
requires one to second quess the future consequence of our actions (do they produce maximum pleasure) which we may get wrong
REPLY - most situations = general classes of acts which we can guess the outcome off eg murder
IGNORES MOTIVE RULES AND DUTIES
morality = why u do something
people need stability of morals and its their duty to obay them
RESPONCE - rules and duties = only useful if they serve the primary principle of utility
don't generate happiness= immoral
IGNORES INORITIES RIGHTS
no guarantee majority = morally right
unjust to minorities
if 7 men rape 1 women act utilitarian = this is good as greatest number are happy
RESPOND unhappiness of rape would extent to all women = ulitarianis would never justify
CANNOT BRIDGE IS TO OUGHT GAP
Moore argued that all naturalist theories commit naturalistic fallacy
go from moral facts to moral laws
cannot assume from that all humans desire is happiness to all human ought to bring about happiness
MAKING DECISION
principle of utility
hedonic calculous
own experiences and hat history has taught to help understands consequences
ability to reason
weigh up best option
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