Bentham Utilitarianism

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Bentham pleasure vs pain
actions should be based off of pain and pleasure
- causes pleasure - ought to do it
- causes pain - ought not to do it.
The principle of utility

approves or disapproves of an action based on its tendancy to augment or diminish pleasure
Characteristics
- Intensity - pain/pleasure 1-10 (force/vivid)
- Duration - how long
- Certainty/Uncertainty
- Propinquity (nearness)/Remoteness
- Fecundity (fruitfulness) - will it produce more of the same?
- Purity - mixed with opposite?
- Extent - how many people affected
How to use characteristics

Mathematical and objective. Calculate this and then decide. If pleasurable
Not common good but a sum of individual goods

yes
Why is it not egoism

Not egoism because its objective and intrinsic. Or rather where its coming from is
Pig vs human scenario
- Pig has 1000 units of pleasure
- Human has 950 units of pleasure
so according to bentham seems like you'd save the pig because of quantity of pleasure
2 principles adverse to utility
- 1. Principle of Asceticism
- 2. Principle of sympathy and antipathy
Principle of Ascenticism
- right - decreases pleasure
- wrong - increases pleasure
This principle is unnatural b/c you cannot will it for an extended time
Principle of Sympathy/Antipathy
- Right if the person approves of it.
- Wrong if the person disapproves of it
- ** Try to impose my preference on you.
- Personal pleasure --> try to impose my preference on you
4 sources/sanctions of pleasure/pain
- 1. Physical Sensation
- 2. Political/Legal/Gov
- 3. Moral Social Interpersonal Conflict
- 4. Religious - God

Card Set Information

Author:	misol
ID:	267769
Filename:	Bentham Utilitarianism
Updated:	2014-03-25 00:46:03
Tags:	bentham utilitarianism philosophy ethics
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Description:	ethics bentham utilitarianism
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