Student Zone
Utilitarianism
CONTENT
Utilitarianism, including:
utility
the hedonic calculus
act utilitarianism
rule utilitarianism
Key Knowledge
the use of the significant concept of utility (seeking the greatest balance of good over evil, or pleasure over pain) in teleological and relativist approaches to ethics
what it is (calculating the benefit or harm of an act through its consequences) and its use as a measure of individual pleasure
what it is (calculating the consequences of each situation on its own merits) and its use in promoting the greatest amount of good over evil, or pleasure over pain
what it is (following accepted laws that lead to the greatest overall balance of good over evil,
or pleasure over pain) and its use in promoting the common good
Analysis
discuss issues raised by utilitarianism, including:
whether or not utilitarianism provides a helpful method of moral decision-making
whether or not an ethical judgement about something being good, bad, right or wrong can be based on the extent to which, in any given situation, utility is best served
whether or not it is possible to measure good or pleasure and then reach a moral decision
Articles and Podcasts
Dialogue: Utilitarianism, Edition 4
Dialogue: Utilitarianism and Christianity, Edition 10
Dialogue: Utilitarianism in the Twentieth Century, Edition 16
Dialogue: Utilitarianism, Edition 29
Dialogue: A Dialogue with Prof. Peter Singer, Edition 23
Dialogue: Utilitarianism, Edition 32
Dialogue: Act and Rule Utilitarianism, Edition 37
Dialogue: The Cinema of Utilitarian Excess, Edition 56
R4 In Our Time Podcast: Utilitarianism
R4 In Our Time Podcast: JS Mill