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Act Utilitarianism (AU)
It is morally right for S to do A if and only if, there is no alternative act to A for S that would produce more utility than S's performing A. TERM 2
Hedonistic Act Utilitarianism
DEFINITION 2 The utility of an action is solely a function of the pleasure and pain that are consequences of that actions. What matters for the utility of an action is only the pleasure and pain it produces. TERM 3
Hedonism
DEFINITION 3 Theory about intrinsic value; all states of pleasure/pain are intrinsically good/intrinsically bad. Only states of pleasure/pain are intrinsically good/intrinsically bad. TERM 4
Instrumentally good
DEFINITION 4 X causes or brings out some intrinsic good state. TERM 5
Hedon
DEFINITION 5 a unit of pleasure
Dolors
an instance of pain TERM 7
Lack of Time Objection to
AU
DEFINITION 7
- If AU is true, then it is always morally right to calculate the utility of an act and all its alternatives before we act. 2. But it is not always morally right to calculate before we do anything. 3. Therefore, AU is not true. TERM 8
Mill's Objections to the Lack of Time
Objection
DEFINITION 8 Mill would disagree with premise 1- there are general rules of thumb that if we follow them, human experience tells us, will maximize our utility. (EX: don't steal, don't murder, etc.) TERM 9
Too High for Humanity Objection to
AU
DEFINITION 9
- If AU is true, all right actions must be motivated by the desire to maximize utility. 2. But it is false that all right actions should have that motive. 3. Therefore, AU is false. TERM 10
Mill's Objection to the Too High for Humanity
Objection
DEFINITION 10 Mill would argue that premise 1 is wrong. What makes something right is not its motive, but its consequence. Motives are irrelevant to the rightness or wrongness of an act. However, motives are relevant to the the blameworthiness or praiseworthiness of the agent.
The Thesis of Organic Unity (Mill)
The value of a life is not necessarily a sum of the value of its parts. TERM 17
Utilitarian Theories of Punishment
DEFINITION 17 Punishment is permissible when and only when punishment maximizes utility. What are the good consequences of punishment: deterrence, people feel safer, people enjoy seeing the guilty punished. What are the bad consequences of punishment: the offender suffers, the offender's friends and family suffer, punishment is expensive. A person should only be punished in the amount that maximizes utility. TERM 18
Objection to the Utilitarian Theories of
Punishment
DEFINITION 18 Sometimes the punishment that maximizes utility is too severe or too lenient. TERM 19
Promises
Objection
DEFINITION 19 According to AU, the only reason to keep a promise is if it maximizes utility. 1. If AU is true, then it is right to break a promise if it maximizes utility. 2. But it isn't right to break a promise 3. Therefore, AU is false TERM 20
Punishing the Innocents
Objection
DEFINITION 20 Punishing the innocent= 705 hedons Not punishing the innocent= 700 hedons 1. If AU is true, then it is morally right to punish the innocent if it maximizes utility. 2. BUT, it isn't true that it is morally right. 3. Therefore, AU fails
Punishing the Innocents Objection, Part 2
Punishing the innocent= 600 hedons Not punishing the innocent= 600 hedons 1. If AU is true, then the two actions are morally equivalent. 2. BUT, they are not morally equivalent. 3. Therefore, AU is not true. TERM 22
Rule Utilitarianism (RU)
DEFINITION 22 i.e. "ideal moral code rule utilitarianism" It is morally right for S to do A, if S's doing A is permitted by the moral code that is ideal for S's society. TERM 23
Q: What is meant by saying "Moral code C is
current in society S"?
DEFINITION 23 The vast majority of people accept C and the vast majority know that the vast majority accept C. TERM 24
The Currency Utility (of a Moral Code)
DEFINITION 24 The net good per person that would be produced if that code were current. TERM 25
What is a good moral code?
DEFINITION 25 Moral code C is ideal for society S, if there is no alternative code to C for S that would have higher currency utility.
