Ethics- Ch 5

What is the difference between act- and rule- utilitarianism?

Act utilitarianism believes that an action becomes morally right when it produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people, while Rule utilitarianism beliefs that the moral correctness of an action depends on the correctness of the rules that allows it to achieve the greatest good.

How do act- and rule-utilitarianism differ in their views on rules?

Act-utilitarian focuses on actions creating good more so than evil. Rule-utilitarian focuses on the greater good of everyone involved and have to follow the set of rules

Is act-utilitarianism consistent with our considered moral judgments regarding justice? Why or why not

Act-utilitarian is consistent with our considered moral judgements regarding justice because it focuses on what is best for the public and for the victim but not for the criminal so focusing on what would provide the most good over evil. Involving the criminal would make it follow the rule-utilitarian since it would be thinking about the better good for everyone involved

What is the principle of utility?

Bentham's "principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question."

What is ethical egoism? What is the difference between act- and rule- egoism?

Ethical egoism is the theory that the right action is the one that advances one's own best interests. Act-egoism says that to determine right action, you must apply the egoistic principle to individual acts. Rule-egoism says that to determine right action, you must see if an act falls under a rule that if consistently followed would maximize your self-interest

greatest happiness principle

Mill's principle that "holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."

What is psychological egoism?

Psychological egoism is the view that the motive for all our actions is self-interest

social contract theory

The doctrine that morality arises from a social contract that self-interested and rational people would abide by in order to secure a degree of peace, prosperity, and safety

In what way is ethical egoism not consistent with our considered moral judgements?

it sanctions actions that we would surely regard as abominable

According to Hobbes, where does morality come from?

morality comes into existence when the Leviathan takes control and guarantees the strength and stability of the social contract

act-egoism

the theory that to determine right action, you must apply the egoistic principle to individual acts

rule-egoism

the theory that to determine right action, you must see if an act falls under a rule that, if consistently followed, would maximize your self-interest

psychological egoism

the view that the motive for all our actions is self-interest

Is psychological egoism true? Why or why not?

true because experience shows that all our actions are in fact motivated by self interest, all actions are performed for some kind of benefit to ourselves

What is the psychological egoist argument for ethical egoism?

we can never be morally obligated to perform an action that we cant possibly do, we aren't morally obligated to perform an action unless motivated by self-interest.