Utilitarianism from Bentham to Mill: Consequences, Rights, and Business

All flashcards

What is utilitarianism?

An ethical approach that evaluates actions by their consequences and aims to maximize overall happiness or utility.

What is Bentham’s greatest happiness principle?

The principle that social morals and legislation should aim to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

What does utility mean in Bentham’s theory?

The value of an action or thing in terms of how much it increases pleasure or reduces pain.

What is consequentialism?

The view that an action’s moral status depends on its consequences.

What is Mill’s harm principle?

Coercion against a person’s will is justified only to prevent harm to others.

Quiz questions

1. What makes utilitarianism a form of consequentialism?Answer: It judges actions by the consequences they are expected to produce.
2. In Bentham’s account, what does universality mean?Answer: The approach applies across human actions, including altruistic ones.
3. Jon intends to kill someone but misses; Matt intends only to frighten that person but accidentally kills them. What distinction does this case highlight for utilitarian analysis?Answer: The contrast between an action’s outcome and the actor’s intention.
4. According to Mill’s harm principle, when may society coerce someone against their will?Answer: When coercion is needed to prevent harm to other people.
5. Why is a business analysis that counts only financial results for owners incomplete as a utilitarian assessment?Answer: It leaves out consequences for other affected stakeholders and externalities.