| A | B |
|---|
| act utilitarianism | This version of utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of a single act. |
| rule utilitarianism | This version of utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of a type of action done repeatedly, and not just a single action. In other words, it focusses on the consequences of following a particular "rule" for action. |
| consequentialism | This theory focuses exclusively on the consequences of an action; utilitarianism is the best known consequentialist theory. |
| principle of utility | The principle which calls for minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure for the greatest number. |
| utilitarianism | The theory that one ought to maximize the happiness and minimize the unhappiness of as many people as possible. |
| Bentham's hedonistic calculus | This is a method of calculating the pleasures and/or pains that a particular action would produce. |
| Mill's higher and lower pleasures | This relies on the notion that some of our characteristics as human beings are more valuable to our humanity than others. |
| the primary weakness of the utilitarian view | The majority can create great harm to the minority of people if it creates happiness for the majority. |
| the time frame that is involved in calculating pleasures and pains in both act and rule utilitarianism | the immediate future and as far into the future as can be determined |
| the people that need to be taken into account in both act and rule utilitarian calculations | one's self, family, friends, community, state, country, world--everyone existing now AND in the future |
| the form of utilitarianism that tends to find exceptions to rules to justify actions | act utilitarianism |
| The rules for rule utilitarianism are determined in the mind as maximizing happiness for the group but can be incorporated into law (as a rule) | True |
| The rule utilitarian just looks at rules that exist in society, whether in a group or in law | False |
| Yes or No, a rule utilitarian asks himself this question: If I made the action I"m thinking about doing into a rule for everyone to follow (and perform the same action), would it maximize happiness overall? | Yes |
| Yes or No, an act utilitarian asks himself or herself the question: Will this action maximize happiness for me? | No |
| Peter Singer | Supports the idea of infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide and experimenting on the demented using the principles of utilitarianism |
| Choose "Nature" or "Consequences": Utilitarianism judges actions to be right or wrong based on the ________________of the action | consequences |
| A utilitarian justification was used to drop bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II because | it was said more lives on both sides would be saved if Japan was harshly forced into surrendering. |
| Cheat or Not Cheat: An act utilitarian is more likely to say that in just this one instance, one may | cheat |
| If there was a rule "You may cheat" that would have ____________consequences for many people in society, and therefore, we should not have such a rule. | bad |
| He thinks you should not have a moral system in which the death of innocent people is justified | Bernard Williams |
| Williams shows in the woods example that the utilitarian theory would justify ______one for the sake of the happiness of the many | killing |
| Peter Singer's utilitarian justification for actions such as assisted suicide and infanticide goes against traditional values regarding | the sanctity of life |
| Besides the idea of harming a few in the interest of promoting the overall happiness of society, what is another chief weakness of utilitarianism? | The measurement problem. How can one measure all consequences, at the moment and into the far future? |
| An advantage of utilitarianism | People are focussing on achieving the happiness of the group and not just their own happiness. |
| Weakness of higher/lower pleasures idea | The distinction needs to go outside the principle of utility as such, since a certain view of human nature is being assumed in determining what is higher and what is lower. |
| two significant problems for utilitarianism | 1) the difficulty in measuring pleasures and pain;2) the idea that the majority could have pleasure maximized at the expense of the minority |
| John Stuart Mill | Elaborated on the theory of utilitarianism with his notion of higher and lower pleasures |
| In rule utilitarianism, the negative and _______of the immediate future, and long term are taken into account | positive |
| In act utilitarianism, the consequences of the ________ future and long term are taken into account | immediate |
