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BIBLICAL ETHICS Study Guide for “Utilitarianism” -- Chapter 5 of Ethics by Arthur Holmes Utilitarians claim that morality is merely the choosing of the action that will maximize the benefits for the maximum number of people. What are two reasons Holmes offers to explain why utilitarianism is the most influential ethical approach in English-speaking philosophy? 1. _ 2. _ Holmes is looking for an answer to this question: “Can moral judgments be r________________ to the question of maximizing benefits?” “Benefits” of an action can be restated as “consequences” of an action, but not exactly … benefits are desirable consequences, but not all consequences are desirable. How do these utilitarians decide which consequences are desirable? Jeremy Bentham 1 John Stuart Mill What is Bentham’s hedonic calculus? Quantifying “the good” is futile. Why? If quantifying “the good” cannot be done, then the alternative must be qualifying “the good.” What is needed in order to do this? How does utilitarianism provide what is needed to evaluate and assess the quality of different types of “good?” Professor Christopher Ullman BIBLICAL ETHICS Is utilitarianism too complex an ethical approach to be used by the general population? Why or why not? Utilitarians often stress that the greatest ethical goal is the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. This creates some questions, however. Does the sum total of wellbeing or happiness justify ignoring the unequal distribution of happiness? How are the rights of minorities guaranteed, if the greatest number of people experiencing the greatest amount of happiness is the ultimate goal of ethics? Empiricism turns out to not be an adequate worldview for determining what makes an action right. The egoist can’t judge between his wants empirically; the utilitarian can’t judge consequences empirically. What unwarranted tactic is used by both egoists and utilitarians to solve the inadequacy of empicism? (Clue: use the verb smuggle in your answer.) Explain Holmes’ statement: “There is more to discrimination against minorities than its consequences.” Professor Christopher Ullman 2