1. Utilitarianism Learning Intention:
Know the key principles of Utilitarianism
Success Criteria:
Create own notes on act and rule utilitarianism.
Successfully answer an exam question on Utilitarianism

2. What are the key principles of Utilitarian Ethics? 4KU

3. Task 1
Use pages Make your own notes on: 1.Act Utilitarianism 2.Rule Utilitarianism 3.Preference Utilitarianism.

4. Act Utilitarianism
Maintains that the good action is the one that leads to the greatest good in a particular situation
Is flexible, being able to take into account individual situations at a given moment.
Problems
Has the potential to justify virtually any act.
Might be impractical to suggest that we should measure each moral choice every time we act.

5. Rule Utilitarianism Looks at potential rules of action.
To determine whether a rule should be followed, he/she looks at what would happen if it were constantly followed.
If adherence to the rule produces more happiness than otherwise, it is a rule that morally should be followed at all times.
Problem
May permit unethical practices because minority interests are not protected e.g. slavery.

6. Preference Utilitarianism
Applying the greatest good to the greatest number only to those involved in the situation.
Maximise happiness for those involved – according to what their preferences are.
Problem
Whose preference is the right preference.
How can preferences be weighed up against each other.

7. Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) The first utilitarian.
Humans ruled by pleasure and pain.
"Act always so as to maximize total net balance of pleasures and pains”
The good of a society is the sum of happiness of the individuals in that society.
The purpose of morality is promotion of the good of society.

8. John Stuart Mill (1806 -1873) Educated Jeremy Bentham
Mill changes ‘Greatest Happiness Principle’ formulated by Bentham.
Not all pleasures are the same moral and intellectual pleasure are greater than physical.
It is not a persons own happiness that matters but the greatest amount of happiness altogether.

9. Problems with Utilitarianism
Who decides what pleasure or happiness is? Everyone has different tastes.
Is it EVER possible to fully predict all the possible outcomes of a moral decision?
Long term and short term consequences.
What about the minority? American Civil Rights Movement.

10. Marking Instructions: No marks for simply writing a list.
Each point about Utilitarian Ethics should be accompanied by an explanation to gain a mark.
Suggested areas covered in answers:
 Consequentiality ethical system Actions are good if they have good consequences
 Pleasure and pain
 Based on the principle of the greatest good
 Act Utilitarianism –principles applied to a particular situation
Rule Utilitarianism –principles applied as general rules based on past experience