1. Mill and Bentham’s Utilitarianism
Rule and Act Utilitarianism
1806 – 1873
DO NOW:
Draw the table below in your books.
Discuss the similarities and differences between Bentham and Mill’s version of utilitarianism.
Mill and Bentham’s Utilitarianism
Similarities
Differences

2. Mill and Bentham’s Utilitarianism
Similarities
Differences
Bentham –quantity
Mill- quality
They both believe that the pain/pleasure calculus is inbuilt into human nature
Bentham – pleasures all of the same value
Mill- higher and lower pleasures
Happiness is the highest goal
Society exists to create happiness
10 mins plus feedback = 15
Bentham – system of hedonic calculus
Mill- based on the application of logical to practical situation
Belief in human progress
Rejection of a priori moral truths

3. Act Utilitarianism: Bentham
Bentham’s version is closest to act utilitarianism, which holds that the principle of utility should be applied for every situation (or act).
Every moral choice faced should be approached by a consideration of which action will result in the greatest good.
Upon this principle, any law may be broken so long as the greatest happiness is achieved. This allows for a flexible approach to ethics which accommodates individual situations.
However, it also creates various problems for the ethicist.
What might these be?

4. Rule Utilitarianism: Mill
Rule Utilitarianism argues that moral laws must be obeyed
They are selected on the basis of whether they will maximise general good or welfare in society
There are conditions by which moral decisions ought to be made and following these rules/conditions will lead to some actions being right and others wrong.
Rule Utilitarian's assume that:
General moral rules exist for the benefit of the majority of people
They prevent selfish behaviour
Rules are determined by their consequences, the amount of utility they produce for the most amount of people. 5

5. Rule Utilitarianism: Utilitarian theory where rules are created for society which, in most situations, will produce the most amount of happiness for the majority. Which of the following do you think a rule utilitarian would condone:
Strong Rule Utilitarianism: General rules deduced should not be broken.
Weak Rule Utilitarianism: General rules deduced can be broken if doing so will maximise happiness in a given situation
Torture is forbidden
Murder is forbidden
Homosexuality is forbidden
Animal experimentation is forbidden
Lying is forbidden
Divorce is forbidden
Strong RULE – stealing is bad as it leads to loss of profits, greater need for police resources, distrust and inequality in society
Weak rule utilitarianism: n a situation where you are starving this stealing will outweigh the pain of not stealing so is acceptable
THERE IS ALSO STRONG (BENTHAM) AND WEAK (MILL) UTILITARIANISM: BENTHAM ALWAYS USES THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY: MILL WILL BREAK IT BASED ON HARM PRINCIPLE.

6. Write your responses on the worksheet.
Application:
Decide what an Act, Strong Rule, Weak Rule utilitarian would say about the following scenarios:
Write your responses on the worksheet.

7. 2. Copy them into your books.
Activity:
1. Separate the statements into criticisms of act or rule Utilitarianism.
2. Copy them into your books.
15 min

8. WHICH FORM OF UTILITARIANISM DO YOU PREFER AND WHY?
Plenary:
WHICH FORM OF UTILITARIANISM DO YOU PREFER AND WHY?