Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading content…
Transcript

Classical Utilitarianism

By Hannah, Harriett and Megan

-In act utilitarianism you are meant to place yourself outside the situation, everyone is meant to be treated equal.

-This means that special relationships, like parents and child, aren't taken in to consideration.

-This can be hard to do as we wish to protect those more vulnerable then ourselves such as the elderly or ill.

-This is from Robert Bowie

  • One of the strengths of utilitarianism is that it's secular.
  • This means that it is universal as everyone can use it, unlike religious rules which are only followed by people of that religion and everyone using the hedonic calculus should get the same result.
  • This idea can be found in Bernard Williams' Morality: An Introduction to Ethics

-This problem is solved by rule utilitarianism, which allows special relationships.

-It also allows us to place the disadvantaged and vulnerable above others.

-This is from Robert Bowie.

-On the other hand it can be seen as elitist to judge some pleasures over others.

-Henry Sidgwick asked how are we to distinguish between listening to Bach and watching Shakespeare.

-"Do not do unto others as you would have them do unto you; they may have different tastes"- Oscar Wilde.

  • The hedonic calculus is difficult to use especially in snap decisions.
  • This can be found in the Vardy's book Ethics Matters.

-Mill's utilitarianism distinguishes between higher and lower pleasures.

-He also concentrates on happiness rather then pleasure. Happiness is an emotion rather then a bodily sensation like pleasure.

  • Also the person using the hedonic calculus may be subconsciously biased.
  • While using utilitarianism the individual is meant to remove themselves from the situation, this can be difficult and they may make a choice that is beneficial to them and not the majority.
  • This can be found in the Vardy's book Ethics Matters.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi