take actions as right or wrong as a given‚ but should use empirical evidence to work out their effect and subsequently conclude on its appropriateness. Bentham’s empirical method of finding out whether the action is worthwhile was to use the Hedonic Calculus‚ a process of assessment which gauges the act’s outcome in several categories‚ such as its certainty‚ purity or extent. Natural Law is another example of the diversity between Utilitarian and Christian ethical attitudes. Although it teaches
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used to govern right and wrong rather than rules in Act Utilitarianism In Rule Utilitarianism‚ J.S. Mill introduced some beneficial rules‚ which acted as guidelines Hedonistic Principle of Utility • Egalitarian – – – • • • Hedonistic Calculus – – – – Anti-Legalistic Harm Principle – – Put forward by Mill to avoid restricting the freedom of the minority. It states that each person can do whatever they want‚ as long as it does not negatively impact on the freedom of other people
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Act Utilitarianism The theory of Utilitarianism was first developed by Jeremy Bentham who was a philosopher of the 18th century. Bentham developed this theory to create a modern and rational approach to morality which would suit the changing society. Bentham’s theory Act Utilitarianism has many strengths and weaknesses. A Strength is that this theory is considers the consequences and happiness which an action has created. This is because Act Utilitarianism is a teleological theory where actions
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The hedonic calculus is a device Bentham used that consists of seven factors to be considered before making any moral decision. The seven factors are the purity‚ remoteness‚ richness‚ intensity‚ certainty‚ extent and duration of the pain/pleasure the situation could
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Explain Bentham’s Utilitarianism: (30 Marks) A man called Jeremy Bentham had a theory called the ‘Utilitarianism theory’. He was born in London at the time of the great scientific and social change and wrote ‘The Principles of Morals and Legislation’ in 1789. Bentham had the theory that all humans seek pleasure and avoid pain at all costs. Utilitarianism has been described as an act or a rule rather than a theory. We break this down into three parts: -Motivation: Bentham was a hedonists (‘Hedone’
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of situation ethics‚ were love should be the most important criterion of all. I believe the theory which makes most sense is Jeremy Bentham’s theory of the hedonic calculus. However due to many decisions and actions having to be made in a matter of seconds‚ I can’t see it being practical in everyday life. The process of the hedonic calculus can take a matter of hours let alone minuets‚ and by following the process step-by step the decision that had to be made may have already passed. In relation
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purpose is to help pick an action to take. According to Utilitarianism‚ the action one should take show be the action that produces the most pleasure and the least pain for everyone involved. In order to make this decision‚ Bentham suggests using a hedonic calculus‚ through which you "...sum up the numbers expressive of the degree of good tendency‚ which the action has‚ with respect to each individual..." (198). This would then give you a number in which you can estimate how much pleasure is caused by a
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and pleasure and it is them that will determine what we ought to do’ meaning the right moral decision will come about through the considerations of pleasure and pain. He devised the ‘Hedonic calculus’ (hedonic meaning pleasure) which was a piece of apparatus which helped him quantify happiness. The Hedonic calculus holds seven aspects which need to be considered: Duration (How long the pleasure will last)‚ Remoteness (How close is the happiness)‚ Purity (How free from pain is the pleasure)‚ Richness
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theory which took this into account. The theory is based on a teleological approach where the consequences determine the morality of the action. It has consists of three main parts: the Motivation of Humans‚ the Principle of Utility‚ and the Hedonic Calculus. Bentham’s theory is a form of Act Utilitarianism. People who follow this rule maintain that the good action is the one that leads to the greatest good in a particular situation. This rule is flexible‚ being able to take into account individual
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which the most pleasure is given to the majority of people. The majority always wins rather than the minority and pleasure is the sole good whereas pain is the sole evil. On one hand this is classed as selfless as using utilitarianism and the hedonic calculus is actually thinking of the best option for all people not just yourself or one specific person. Also‚ the ‘golden rule ‘is “Love your neighbour as yourself” which clearly means that you should bare everyone in mind
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