Download 2 Booklet 2 Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill
Booklet 2
AO1
Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism
 Utilitarianism as a relativistic and consequentialist/teleological theory
 The principle of utility – the greatest happiness for the greatest number – based on the quantity
of pleasure/happiness (maximise pleasure and minimise pain) and the seven criteria of the
hedonic calculus (intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, richness, purity and extent)
Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism
 Higher and lower pleasures, based on the quality of pleasure/happiness and not the quantity
 Rule Utilitarianism: based on the facts that an act is right if it meets a set of rules, which as a
consequence of being
 The different forms of Rule Utilitarianism: weak and strong
Candidates will be expected to give examples of the application of Utilitarianism.
Candidates should consider the degree to which both Act and Rule Utilitarianism are compatible with
the traditional ethical teaching of one major world religion.
AO2
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Strengths and weaknesses of Utilitarianism
Does ‘happiness’ provide an adequate basis for moral decision making?
Could Utilitarianism’s use of the principle of utility/the hedonic calculus promote injustice and
/or morally wrong behaviour?
To what extent can Utilitarianism as a relativistic and teleological theory work in today’s society?
How far is Utilitarianism compatible with a religious approach to moral decision making?
Application of Utilitarianism to moral issues
Read pages 63 and 64 of Vardy and Grosch.
Explain the utilitarian attitude to the two examples of abortion.
Read pages 65 and 66 of Vardy and Grosch.
Explain how the Hedonic Calculus could apply to this example
The application of utilitarianism to sexual ethics
The basis of Utilitarianism is that all people should make moral choices that ensure the greatest
happiness of the greatest number. What does it say about modern sexual ethics?
To answer this, a utilitarian must ask whether that sexual activity will have far reaching
consequences or not and would need to ask the following questions:
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Does the sexual activity lead to the greatest happiness? Intensity
Whose happiness is served?
Does someone else suffer great pain?
Does the happiness/pain only affect those directly involved and does it have a wider
impact on the community? remoteness
 Is the happiness/ pain brief or long-lasting? duration
 Is the sexual activity beneficial in the long term (higher pleasure) or is it short term lust
(lower pleasure)
Also – certainty, richness, purity and extent
The application of utilitarianism to sexual ethics
Sex before marriage
Same sex relationships
Sexual Ethics
Adultery
Divorce
To what extent is Utilitarianism compatible with the traditional teaching of Christianity?
In order to see how compatible Utilitarianism is with the traditional ethical teachings of Christianity it is
important to firstly outline the main aspects of the theory. In summary, Utilitarianism is:
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Based on utility or usefulness
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Centred on ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’
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Happiness and pain can be measured by the hedonic calculus
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The consequences of the action are the most important thing.
Now we can compare the principles of Utilitarianism with the ethical teaching of Christianity.
Summary
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Utilitarianism is close to the Golden Rule teaching of Jesus to do others what you would want
them to do to you
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happiness is an important biblical ethic
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Utilitarianism has been the basis for much social reform
X
However, the pursuit of happiness above all else is incompatible with Christian teaching on love
and duty
X
Some Christians believe in the absolute nature of biblical ethical teaching
X
Some Christians believe that motives behind actions are more important than consequences
Utilitarianism is only partially compatible because of its emphasis on the highest good. However,
Christians believe in the absolute commandments of God and would not support the great emphasis on
consequences within Utilitarianism.
Some more explanations Extract from Joe Jenkins Ethics and Religion 1999
Mill believed that his Utilitarian ethic had caught the very spirit of the Golden Rule (to treat others as
you could want them to treat us). However, Christian love knows no limit and is prepared to go not one
mile but two. To love one’s neighbour as if he or she were oneself, to put oneself in his or her place, is
certainly not to treat him or her as one of many. Utilitarians define ‘justice’ as treating ‘similar cases
similarly’ whereas Christian ethics means ‘treating similar cases dissimilarly’, regarding the good of any
individual as more than their own.
Christian ethics differs from utilitarianism in the importance each gives to the problem ‘Whose good’?
While Utilitarians answer this question with ‘What is the good?, Christian ethics answers it with
‘Whose?’. For Utilitarians love is subordinate to justice, whereas for Christians love is primary.
A fundamental difference between Utilitarianism and Christian ethics can be seen in the events around
the trial of Jesus before Caiaphas, as recorded in John’s Gospel (Chapter 18). Jesus and Caiaphas act
from totally different ethical principles, even though they might have spoken the same words: ‘It is
expedient that one man should die for the people’ (John 18:14). But Caiaphas applied this principle to
the other person, whereas Jesus applied it to himself. Caiaphas was concerned to maintain an existing
social order, whereas Jesus was concerned to bring reconciliation and community where before there
had been none.
While Utilitarianism aims to preserve and create an ordered and just social order, this is not always
sufficient for bringing in an isolated and hostile individual into the community. Christians believe that
only love can penetrate the barriers that often exist between people. It is relationship that is ultimately
important, and only by loving another for their own sake can true community come into being.
Complete the table below – use page 113 of Lawson and the information on the previous page
The lists do not need to match
Remember to include specific biblical quotes and ideas.
Utilitarianism is compatible with Christianity
Utilitarianism is not compatible with Christianity
Utilitarianism believes it has ‘caught the very spirit’
of Jesus’ Golden Rule . . .
Past AO1 exam question - plan/write answer for your revision
 Explain why some religious believers reject the use the Utilitarianism whilst other religious
believers accept its use. 30 marks
 Examine ways in which Act and Rule Utilitarianism are incompatible with the traditional
ethical teaching of one major world religion
If any candidate only refers to Act OR Rule Utilitarianism then award a maximum of Level 5.
Reasons why religious believers reject Act and Rule Utilitarianism:
Many religious believers adhere to moral absolutes like the 10 Commandments (e.g. do not murder) and
many adopt a deontological approach to ethics, whereas Act Utilitarians do not. Act Utilitarians look at
the consequences and each act the hedonic calculus to determine whether the act is good or bad and
their approach is theological. Most religious believers base their moral system on a belief in God, that
God is the ultimate source of moral authority, but Utilitarianism is a secular ethical theory – God plays
no part in this theory. Religious believers would not accept the fact that under Utilitarianism a minority
might suffer for the majority.
Although Rule Utilitarianism uses rules, they are derived from the fact that they fulfil “the greatest
happiness for the greatest number” and are not based on any divine command.