Utility (OCR A-Level Religious Studies): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
Founder of Act utilitarianism
Founder of Act utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
Principle of utility definition
Principle of utility definition
Action is good if leads to greatest happiness for greatest number
Type of ethical theory utilitarianism is
Type of ethical theory utilitarianism is
Consequentialist theory
Bentham's 'two sovereign masters'
Bentham's 'two sovereign masters'
Pain and pleasure
Definition of utility in Bentham's theory
Definition of utility in Bentham's theory
Property producing benefit or preventing mischief/pain
What choice does burning building dilemma present?
What choice does burning building dilemma present?
Save child or expensive painting
Giles Fraser on saving painting over child
Giles Fraser on saving painting over child
Shows lack of sympathy, promotes immoral behaviour
MacAskill's view on saving painting
MacAskill's view on saving painting
Shows refined sympathy, saves many with money from sale
Strength: what utility principle is based on
Strength: what utility principle is based on
Human nature, easy to apply to society
Strength: what utility principle provides
Strength: what utility principle provides
Freedom to choose our own decisions
Weakness: Bentham's mistake about good and moral
Weakness: Bentham's mistake about good and moral
Associates good and moral with pleasure
Weakness: evil act utility allows example
Weakness: evil act utility allows example
Gang rape if justified by more pleasure
Kant's objection to consequentialism
Kant's objection to consequentialism
Cannot predict consequences of our actions