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Utilitarianism

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Fede Fretes
Fede Fretes

This document discusses two ethical theories: 1. Utilitarianism focuses on achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It was developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. 2. Situation Ethics argues that ethical decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis by following the principle of love rather than absolute rules. It was developed by Joseph Fletcher. The document asks if it is okay to approve same-sex marriage and stem cell studies according to these two ethical theories.

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Utilitarianism The greatest happiness for the greatest number
Basic statements Happiness is the only thing that is good in itself It is moral to sacrifice ones desires to help the greatest number happiness. Democracy?
Quantitative Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham Hedonic calculus Its intensity Its duration Its certainty or uncertainty Its nearness or remoteness how wide ranging is it? Its ability to continue. How continuous is the pleasure? Its purity the chance it has of not producing the opposite . Who is affected by it?
Qualitative Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill 1806 1873 Mill rejected Benthams use of the Hedonic Calculus. In his view some pleasures are of a higher quality than others. higher pleasures intellectual But pleasures of the body are lower pleasures appetite.
Situation Ethics All you need is love
Basic Statements It is moral to set aside a rule if we have a good reason for doing so. Ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis. Only one thing is intrinsically good: love. Doing good is a matter of acting in love. All we need is love.
A christian approach Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991) Moral judgments are decisions, not conclusions Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely, love: nothing else Love "wills the neighbour's good" [desires the best for our neighbour] whether we like them or not Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed The rightness depends on many factors Love as agape Rules are not to guide but to illuminate.
Essay Is it OK to approve same-sex marriage and stem cell studies? According to your answer, do you consider yourself a utilitarian/situational ethicists?

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Utilitarianism

  • 1. Utilitarianism The greatest happiness for the greatest number
  • 2. Basic statements Happiness is the only thing that is good in itself It is moral to sacrifice ones desires to help the greatest number happiness. Democracy?
  • 3. Quantitative Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham Hedonic calculus Its intensity Its duration Its certainty or uncertainty Its nearness or remoteness how wide ranging is it? Its ability to continue. How continuous is the pleasure? Its purity the chance it has of not producing the opposite . Who is affected by it?
  • 4. Qualitative Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill 1806 1873 Mill rejected Benthams use of the Hedonic Calculus. In his view some pleasures are of a higher quality than others. higher pleasures intellectual But pleasures of the body are lower pleasures appetite.
  • 6. Basic Statements It is moral to set aside a rule if we have a good reason for doing so. Ethical decisions should follow flexible guidelines rather than absolute rules, and be taken on a case by case basis. Only one thing is intrinsically good: love. Doing good is a matter of acting in love. All we need is love.
  • 7. A christian approach Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991) Moral judgments are decisions, not conclusions Only one thing is intrinsically good, namely, love: nothing else Love "wills the neighbour's good" [desires the best for our neighbour] whether we like them or not Love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed The rightness depends on many factors Love as agape Rules are not to guide but to illuminate.
  • 8. Essay Is it OK to approve same-sex marriage and stem cell studies? According to your answer, do you consider yourself a utilitarian/situational ethicists?