Download John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism: Happiness, Liberty, and Social Policy and more Quizzes Introduction to Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity!
What does the principle of utility say,
according to Mill? Give example
actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness...... right ---> what produces happiness Example: helping your neighbor is right bc it produces happiness TERM 2
Why does Mills utilitarianism count as
hedonist?
DEFINITION 2 Hedonism idea: "pleasure and freedom from pain are all thats desireableand all desireable things are inherent in themselves or as means to the promotion of pleasure and prevention of pain" .... pleasure and abscence of pain are desirable as ends and good in themselves ...... Examples: money, power, health, love, friendship,talent TERM 3
How does Mill characterize happiness?
DEFINITION 3 happiness is pleasure and the absence of pain..... its as existence exempt as far as possible from pain and as rich as possible in enjoyments, both in point of quality and quantity, involving more activity than passivity TERM 4
Explain Mills justification of the idea that
there are higher and lower pleasures. How
can we determine whether one pleasure is
higher or lower than another?
DEFINITION 4 to determine which is higher you must be educated and have ability to appreciate both pleasures.... it depends on more developed capacities TERM 5
Give some examples that lend support to this
idea, and explain why they do.
DEFINITION 5 Plato vs Cosmo and Opera vs Rap, the only way to decide whats higher is to appeal to competent judges. if you are more educated about classical things Plato and Opera may give you more happiness otherwise Cosmo and Rap will
How does Mill defend the claim that
happiness is an attainable ideal that can
provide a goal for the actions of individuals
and governments?
there are some great evils in the world (poverty, disease, cruelty). we can work toward working with these things, social reform, education and the progress of science can help remove them, he doesnt think happiness is easy to get but should be strived for and tried to make reality TERM 7
What does the principle of utility recommend
for social policy?What are some strategies the
government could use to achieve utilitarian
goals?
DEFINITION 7
- laws and social arrangments should plade the happiness of the individual in harmony with the interest of the whole Example: if you rob someone you are put in jail for a year - people wont want that bc it takes away from their happiness- if they dont rob they end up happy(punishment free) and the mass is happy 2. education and opinion should aim at making individuals associate their own happiness and the happiness of the whole TERM 8
Explain Mills harm principle, making it explicit
what kinds of restrictions on liberty are
justified, and which ones are not.
DEFINITION 8 the only legit power to society is preventing harm to others - its not legit to restrict liberty for the sake of the good of the individual(paternalism) - like father to children, we arent allowed to restrict freedom of individual once they are adults if they arent harming anyone else. ...even if you think its stupid, if theyre harming themselves its up to them Liberty of: 1. conscience thought and feeling 2. expressing/publishing opinions 3. tastes and pursuits to fram ones plan of life to suit ones character/ to do as we like 4. to associate with others TERM 9
What kinds of societies count as free
societies, according to Mill?
DEFINITION 9 to count as a free society they have to follow the harm principles and its liberties TERM 10
What is Mills argument against the censorship
of opinions, assuming that the censored
opinions may be true?
DEFINITION 10 those who wasnt to suppress it, deny its truth.... but they are not infaliable, they dont have authority to decide this question for others, infalliability of "our world", opinions of people of other ages and cultures.... people dont always know whats right to deny... humans have capacity to rectify mistakes by discussion and experience, wrong opinions and practices graduall yield to fact and argument - this requires keeping an open mind..... Example: Jesus accused of impiety, govt used to silence views that were valuable
Why does Mill think that it would make people
passive?
despot = monarch, it would produce mentally passive people and reduce intelletual and moral capacties bc: 1. no exercise of voice of their will 2. their collective interests are managed for them 3. theyd focus on material issues and private life 4. theyd be uniformed and uninterested in public matters TERM 17
In what ways does democratic government
better protect the interests of individuals and
encourage the good management of society?
DEFINITION 17 the basis of govt is when the members of the govt have a say - every citizen has a voice, more likely the interest of people are taken into account and respected bc even if people in power want to do a good job they'll overlook people with different views than them example: decisions of Parliament concerning the working class TERM 18
What are the benefits of civic participation for
the individual citizen?
DEFINITION 18 the improvement of mankind coems with intellectual and practical activity, it supports development of the intellect and character....
- rights of citizenship encourages participation 2. advocate of womens suffrage 3. education through civic activity 4 exercise of social duties: jury duty, service in perishes 5. civic activies helps understanding of complex issues 6. it enlarges feelings --> common good 7. demanding ideal of participation TERM 19
What are the benefits of civic participation for
the society?
DEFINITION 19 its a "system of cooperation", live better than if living on their own, theyall have to do more work if not so living with others and cooperation is better, if ALL are just it is very advantageous TERM 20
Explain the similarities and differences
between the contractualism of Hobbes, Locke
and Rousseau, on the one hand, and Rawls
contractualism on the other.
DEFINITION 20
- state of nature, social contract: what do individuals deliberate about and agree on? to have a govt or not 2. Rawls: the original position(similar to state of nature), what do individuals deliberate about and agree on? - whats just/unjust
Describe Rawls original position, including
what individuals are like and what their
motivations are like
they deliberate about and agree on whats just and unjust, there are people but there are alot of things they dont know(their class, capabilities, talents, strengths, gender), the dont know the conception of the good, they dont know who they are, there is a veil of ignorance TERM 22
Why does the original position include a veil
of ignorance?
DEFINITION 22 everyones interests are taken into account, if you dont know your own interest youll think ore towards the principles that benefit everyone bc there isnt bias Example: if youre catholic and majority of society is youll push for catholic to be society's religion ---> bias TERM 23
What is the difference between natural
primary goods and social primary goods?
DEFINITION 23 Natural: health, strength, intelligence, imagination etc --> inherited, have when born Social: rights, liberties, opportunities, income, wealth ---> produced/destributed by social institutions, only important in societies(when there are other people) TERM 24
Why are individuals interested only in the
distribution of social primary goods?
DEFINITION 24 because natural primary goods are inherited, and there when you are born, they cant be interested in the distribution bc its not up to the society... since social primary goods are rights, liberties, income, wealth etc. these are only important where there are other people. TERM 25
What principles of justice are chosen in the
original position?What is the reasoning for it?
First Principle
DEFINITION 25
- each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive scheme of liberties for others..... get as much freedom as possible for basic freedoms (political liberty, freedom of speech and assembly, liberty of conscience, freedom of the person, right to hold personal property, freedom from arbitrary arrest) Reason: If i dont know who i am, the might be central to my life, the more freedom there is the better the chance when you know who you are youll have freedom
Why does Nozick reject end-result principles
of justice?
it doesnt contain historical info, what if he stole what he had according to the graph, how is it each person has what they have (inherited? stolen?), how people have what they have is more important than if in the end theyre okay.... "historical principles of justice hold that past circumstances or actions of people can create differential entitlemtns or differential deserts to things" TERM 32
Why does he reject patterned principles of
justice?
DEFINITION 32 patterns make it too simple... some people have investments, get interest, gifts, produce alot, find things, inheritance --> no pattern, liberty upsets patterns, free decisions will alter pattern TERM 33
Give examples of end-result principles,
historical principles, patterned principles, non
patterned principles.
DEFINITION 33 Historical: "Dad worked hard so gets alot of money, his daughter never works so against principle to give money to her" even though this goes with transfer principle ---> inherited Non Patterned: TERM 34
Explain the Wilt Chamberlain example and its
purpose
DEFINITION 34 Chamberlain was a basketball player, we start with just distribution (D1, patterned), social and economic inequalities should benefit the worst off, economic goods should be distributed to max happiness THEN Chamberlain says he'll only play if he gets .25 per ticket, people do so. at the end of the season theres not equality bc Chamb has alot more money than everyone else, the end is a new distribution (D2, not patterned) THIS IS JUST bc allows people freedom to use their legitimate shares TERM 35
Explain the entrepreneur in a socialist society
example and its purpose
DEFINITION 35 living in society and wants to buy alot of lectures so sell things to get money to buy more books... JUST bc free use of legitimate shares
How does Nozick defend the view that
taxation of labor is a serious violation of
personal liberty?
people dont have unlimited right to have property, "taxation of earning from labor is on par with forced labor", work 40 hours a week with 20% tax = 8 hours of forced labor (the 8 hours are like slave labor since not paid, stolen from person), breaking contract of selling labor for certain amount of money, believes minimum wage laws are unjust bc limits freedom to decide/make contract with worth of labor TERM 37
What does Nozicks principle of justice in
acquisition say? What are the problems with
Lockes theory of just acquisition?
DEFINITION 37 Locke: can take unowned things and work (mix with labor) to make it theirs, own the land bc you own your labor and mix it, BUT if you own juice and dump it into a river the river is not then yours. TERM 38
What does Lockes proviso say and how does
Nozick interpret it?
DEFINITION 38 Locke: there should be enough and as good left in common for others, the situation of others must not be worsened Nozick: private property does not worsen the situation of those unable to appropriate it Example: theres an island and people keep taking land, when people on last boat arrive theres no more land to take - so the people that took the last of the land made them worse off? No, they arent worse off bc they dont have anything at all, they just wont get land, 1st come 1st serve TERM 39
Do private property and free markets satisfy
the Lockean proviso for Nozick? Why or why
not?
DEFINITION 39 Definition TERM 40
What does Nozicks principle of justice in
transfer say?
DEFINITION 40 only legit owners may transfer holdings, cant be result of force, fraud etc.
What are the principles of justice that Walzer
proposes for the sphere of security and
welfare?
every political community must attend to the needs of its members as they collectively understand those needs, goods must be distributed in proportion to need, just bc YOU need something (or think you do) doesnt mean everyone does so if you dont get it that doesnt = injustice, distribution must recognize and uphold the underlying equality of membership TERM 47
Are these principles satisfied in the U.S.?
Explain example of criminal justice
DEFINITION 47 affluent community, expansive understanding of individuals needs, shabby system of communal provision, provision does not measure up to the internal requirements of the sphere TERM 48
Explain example of criminal justice
DEFINITION 48 what are the shared understanding about distributions of punishment? everyone guilty gets punished, everyone entitled to attorney, if you get a fair trial that shouldnt depend on if you have money or not TERM 49
Explain how medical care should be
distributed according toWalzer, taking into
account how the meaning of this good has
changed historically.
DEFINITION 49 in history it was relatively marginal, it was much different, now it is more powerful and can cure and heal, theres a shift in attitude about it now... today its very important, if untreated bc of money to afford seen as very unjust, the distribution should be based on mean NOT paying, access should be proportioned to NEED not capacity to pay TERM 50
How does Walzer respond to the objection
that the lack of national health insurance
reflects the political decisions of Americans
about the meaning of this good?
DEFINITION 50 the political community has invested in and regulate heath care - licensing of physicians, funding of medical schools, funding of bi hospitals, investment in research - theres already alot of funding towards medicine and healthcare, this already shows its importance so to be consistent t should be given to everyone
What are blocked exchanges, according to
Walzer, and what is their purpose? Give some
examples.
the good that are NOT legit to buy/sell Example: political offices, basic welfare services (primary ed, police protection), prizes and honors, love and friendship TERM 52
What is the proper sphere of money and the
market?
DEFINITION 52 there are goods that are properly distributed by the market... market transactions generate economic inequalities... we should allow the market to function, but block the dominance of money TERM 53
Does Walzer agree with the idea that the
market gives people what they deserve?
DEFINITION 53 if theres not force, fraud etc. the results are JUST, there are moral limits to the way people accumulate, some things still should be sold... standards of this are independent of what people are willing to pay for Example: Van Gough was very poor, and paintings were not appreciated. years after his death the views of his paintings changed and worth alot.... there are some things that valuable/merit cant be determined by how much people pay for it - -> may think a book is excellent, doesnt mean you paid alot for it TERM 54
What is hard work, on Walzers view? Why is it
a negative good?
DEFINITION 54 hard means harsh, unpleasant, difficult to endure... its a negative good and carries with it other negative goods (poverty, degradation, danger) Example: collecting garbage, cleaner(maid), slaughter houses ---> differences in culture: in India, people dealing with hides/cows is degrading TERM 55
Does the work of soldiers count as hard work
or not, on his view?
DEFINITION 55 its a special kind of hard work, the job is recognized as valuable and admired
