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Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is an ethical theory. It is teleological and hedonistic. So, Utilitarianism says that the right action is…
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Jeremy Bentham Founded utilitarianism Based on utility
"that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness...or...to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness” We should always maximise utility – increase the amount of happiness/pleasure in the world, and reduce the amount of pain/suffering. We are aiming for the “greatest good for the greatest number”
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Act Utilitarianism
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In your group… What would a utilitarian say is the right action in each of these cases? Shoot one person to save 10,000? Give your drug-addicted friend lots of heroin, or send him to rehab? Come to college, or stay at home and watch TV? Shoot baby Hitler or save baby Hitler? Save a stranger or save your mum? Extension What was difficult about this task? What more do you need to know to make the decision-making easier. Based on what we’ve done so far, do you think utilitarianism is an effective way of making moral decisions?
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A tricky question… You have started to apply utilitarianism to some basic ethical decisions. If you wanted to use it to make all your decisions, what more do you need to know?
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But how do you measure pleasure?
The Hedonic Calculus Bentham said in order to make the right decision, we need to work out which action will result in the most pleasure. So we need to know how much pleasure any action will result in. But how do you measure pleasure?
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Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
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Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply: Duration
The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply: Duration
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Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply: Duration Remoteness
The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply: Duration Remoteness
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The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
Duration Remoteness Intensity
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The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
Duration Remoteness Intensity Certainty
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The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
Duration Remoteness Intensity Certainty Extent
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The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
Duration Remoteness Intensity Certainty Extent Purity
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The Hedonic Calculus Bentham gives us seven criteria to apply:
Duration Remoteness Intensity Certainty Extent Purity Succession
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Bentham’s Theory as a whole: Act Utilitarianism
What are the consequences of each option? How much pleasure/pain results from each consequence? Which action results in the most pleasure? What are the options? Apply Hedonic Calculus Apply Hedonic Calculus Apply Hedonic Calculus Apply Hedonic Calculus Apply Hedonic Calculus Apply Hedonic Calculus
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Let’s try an example… What are the consequences of each option?
How much pleasure/pain results from each consequence? Which action results in the most pleasure? What are the options?
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Applying the theory… Now choose your own ethical issue and apply Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism.
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Before you go… Can you remember all seven points of the hedonic calculus? Is this a good way of measuring pleasure??
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