PHIL: Exam 2
State and carefully explain Mill's Principle of Utility.
"Actions are right as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to promote the opposite of happiness."
State and carefully explain Mill's Harm Principle.
"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."
What is Mill's view of what he calls "experiments of living?"
) They should be allowed (if people want to try them) so that we can progress.
An action is permissible is it meets four requirements...
- The action is inherently either morally good or morally neutral - The bad effect is not used to produce the good effect - The intention must always be to bring about the good effect - The good effect must be at least as important as the bad effect.
A will is a good will if and only if it sincerely desires to do the right thing and always acts according to that desire.
false
According to Rule Utilitarianism, justice is intrisinsically valuable.
false
According to rule utilitarianism, moral rules are intrinsically valuable.
false
According to rule utilitarianism, the government ought to rule its people harshly to promote the greater good
false
According to rule utilitarianism, the government ought to rule its people harshly to promote the greater good (True/False)
false
If a controversial view is true and the majority believes that the contrary view is false, the controversial view should not be allowed because it will make the majority unhappy, according to Mill.
false
If a view is false and offensive to the greatest number, it should not be allowed because of the pain it will produce.
false
Kant thought moral imperatives are hypothetical imperatives
false
Kant's view is a rationalist view. That means Kant believes that all moral knowledge comes through experience.
false
Kant's view is deontological. That means that it is rooted in religious duty rather than consequences.
false
on benthams view, moral truths may be known with certainty
false
on mills view, moral truths may be known with certainty
false
on the utilitarianism view, moral truths may be known with certainty
false
wants view is deontological. that mens it is rooted in religion rather than consequences
false
What does Mill think is the highest human good (the summum bonum)?
happiness
garret hardin
he argues that the rich should not aid the poor and hungry because doing so will. only invite catastrophe for rich and poor alike
duty of beneficence
moral obligation to benefit others
According to Mill, should our actions be just as free as our opinions?
no
negative right
obligates others not to interfere with that persons obtaining something
positive right
obligates others to help that person obtain something
consequentialist grounds, these critics of food aid argue that feeding the hungry in countries where population is unchecked will just lead to greater tradgedy
or moral duty is not to feed the hungry
What did Mill think was the most important political concern of people in ancient times?
protection from tyranny of political rulers
destributive justice
questions regarding whether the fair distribution of society's goods
How are we to choose which rules are best, according to rule utilitarianism?
rules should be selected by experience
State and carefully explain how Mill defines harm.
something that is damaging, not hurting feelings but actually damaging Actions that damage, Actions that risk damage, Actions that violate an assignable duty to another
Mill argues that our first obligation to society is the duty not to harm the interests of others, or interfere with their rights. What does he think is the source of this obligation?
the basis of our being protected by society, and NOT by envisioning some social contract from which to deduce such duties (Rejection of Locke's view)
According to Kant, the only thing good in itself is
the good will
Kant's version of the categorical imperative rests firmly on universality
the notion that the moral law applies to all persons in relevantly similar situations.
When Mill refers to the power of society, what is he mainly talking mainly about?
the power of the majority over the minority
Which of Mill's principles is the most fundamental to his political theory?
the principle of utility
Doctrine of double effect
the principle that performing a good action may be permissible even if it has abd effects, but performing a bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible; any bad effects must be unintended
egalitarian
theories hold that justice requires equal distributions of goods around all persons.
What is Mill's most basic moral concept?
actions that bring about the most good=pleasure=happiness=utility
Which areas of liberty that does Mill think should be protected?
Opinions and there expression, Consciousness Actions and conduct Right of assembly
Which of the following are raised as objections to utilitarianism?
- Violating a person's rights might promote the greatest good for the greatest number - Enslaving a small minority might promote the greatest good for the greatest number. - Punishing the innocent might promote the greatest good for the greatest number
What are the criteria Mill offers for distinguishing between self-regarding conduct (that part of a person's life that concerns only him/herself) and other-regarding conduct (that which concerns or affects others)?
1. An action is other regarding if it significantly affects someone to whom we have a specific, assignable duty. 2. An action is other regarding if it significantly affects one or more other persons
According to rule utilitarianism
We ought to obey the rule that would promote the greatest good for the greatest number
According to Mill, unless a view is defended fully, frequently, and fearlessly,
A) It will be held as a dead dogma, not as a living truth. B) It will be held in the manner of a prejudice with little comprehension or feeling of its rational grounds. C) The meaning of the doctrine itself will be in danger of being lost, or enfeebled, and deprived of its vital effect on the character and conduct
Which of the following are raised as objections to utilitarianism?
A) Violating a person's rights might promote the greatest good for the greatest number B) Enslaving a small minority might promote the greatest good for the greatest number. C Punishing the innocent might promote the greatest good for the greatest number
Paternalism
Actions or policies in which an individual to group of individuals act like a parent
When applying the Principle of Utility, what is the main goal? Give a concrete example of it in application.
Among all available courses of action, the action that brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people to be affected by the action. Or if there is no happiness to be produced by any alternative, the goal is to bring about the least unhappiness.
But for the nonconsequentialist, aka deontologist, rightness does not come from the consequences of an action, but from its nature.
An action is right now because of what it produces, but because of what it makes.
in defending individual freedom to express one's beliefs or opinions, Mill considers three kinds of cases. Explain all three, and give examples.
Case One: The minority opinion at issue is true; society is wrong Case Two: The minority opinion at issue is false; society is right Case Three: Both the minority opinion and the received view in society are each partly true.
What kind of ideology is embodied in the Principle of Utility?
Collectivist, one that seeks the collective good
According to Rule Utilitarianism, justice is intrisinsically valuable.
FALSE
Act utilitarianism is sometimes called indirect utilitarianism because actions have consequences only indirectly.
False
For the consequentialist, the rightness of an action depends entirely on the effects of that action.
Good effects make the deed right Bad effects make the deed wrong.
A hypothetical Imperative tells us
what we should do if we have certain desires. We should obey such imperatives only if we desire the outcome specified.
One of the problems raised against utilitarianism concerns justice. What is the problem
If an unjust act promotes more utility than a just act, utilitarianism seems to say the unjust act is the right act.
One of the problems raised against utilitarianism concerns justice. What is the problem.
If an unjust act promotes more utility than a just act, utilitarianism seems to say the unjust act is the right act.
What kind of ideology is embodied in the Harm Principle?
Individualist, one that makes individual rights and liberties fundamental
An action can be permissible if...
It's maxim can be universalized in it You would be willing to let that happen. If you can so will the maxim, then the action is right. If you cannot then the action is wrong.
what is an imperative
Kant said that an "imperative" is something that a person must do an example would be --> be happy!
Means - end principle
Says that we must always treat people as ends in themselves, as creatures of great intrinsic worth. Never as things merely of instrumental value.
State and clearly explain Mill's two criteria for determining when the authority of the government or the majority may legitimately be exercised to limit individual freedom. Give at least two concrete examples.
Society may legitimately use its authority to limit the freedoms of an individual whenever one's inaction causes: A failure of a specific obligation to another or others Definite damage or definite risk of damage to another or others
According to Rule Utilitarianism, a rule that promotes utility has extrinsic value.
TRUE
According to rule utilitarianism, moral rules are intrinsically valuable.
TRUE
The formulation and evaluation of rules is an important part of moral deliberation for both Kant and Mill.
TRUE
duty of beneficence
a moral obligation to benefit others.
obligatory actions
actions are what duty requires
The harm principle John Stuart Mill argued that
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."
Which kind of tyranny worries Mill the most?
The tyranny of the majority.
What is Mill's main goal in On Liberty?
To determine the "nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual."
How does Mill define right action?
To the extent that it produces the desired good
Kant's theory emphasizes three of morality's most important features:
Universality Impartiality Respect for persons
What does Mill mean by "utility" in On Liberty?
Utility in its largest sense, grounded on the permanent interests of man as a progressive being.
According to the principle defended in On Liberty,
We are never allowed to interfere with an individual's liberty on paternalistic grounds.
superobligitory actions
are actions that go above and beyond what duty requires
Imperfect duties
are not always to be followed; they do have exceptions.
Perfect Duties
are those that absolutely must be followed without fail; no exceptions. Examples include do not break a promise, no lying, no suicide.
Which of the following is an imperative?
be happy
What is Mill's main argument in support of the Harm Principle?
brings about the most happiness
Which kind of ethical theory is Mill's utilitarianism?
consequentialist/Teleological
What is the key difference between consequentialist (teleological) and nonconsequentialist (deontological) moral theories?
consequentialist/Teleological- right or wrong of an action depends solely on its consequences, Mill Nonconsequentialist/Deontological- actions are just right or wrong not dependent on the consequences
Kant says that the moral law
consist entirely of categorical imperatives
retributive justice
deliberations about fair punishment for wrongdoing
In kant's ethics, right actions have moral values only is they are done with a "good will"
do it because it is your duty to
libertarian theorues
emphasize individual liberties and negative rights. robert nozick, john hospes
Natural law theorist draw the following conclusion:
how nature reveals how it should be.
For Mill, what justifies our claim to individual liberties?
individual liberties create the most happiness
a right
is a persons claim or entitlement to something, a moral demand that obligates others to act accordingly.
justice
is about person getting what is fair, and what is right
What is our second social obligation, according to Mill?
to pay society back by contributing
A good will, according to Kant, is the will that chooses according to reason and is not swayed by desire.
true
A hypothetical imperative is in the form, "If you want X, then do Y!"
true
Mill argues that the reason we are free is that we are born with inalienable rights, one of them being the right to liberty.
true
On Kant's view, moral truths can be known with certainty.
true
Unlike ethical relativism, which has found little favor among philosophers, many philosophers have thought utilitarianism a plausible theory.
true
We concluded in class that rule utilitarianism can meet the important objections raised against act utilitarianism.
true
if a person does the right thing by keeping a promise, that act has no moral worth if it is done solely out of the feeling of love for the person, on Kant's view.
true
on kants view, moral truths may be known with certainty
true
the libertarian asserts that we have no duty to help the poor and hungry of the world, and we do so it is because it is an act of charity, not that duty commands it
true
singers offer
we are duty bound to prevent something bad from happening as long as we can prevent it without sacrificing anything morally significant to ourself.
Which of the following is true regarding Mill's view on the liberty of action?
we are free to do whatever we chose as long as it does not harm others
A Categorical Imperative tells us
we should do something in all situations regardless of our wants and needs
theories of distributive justice try to explain
what makes a particular allocation of economic goods fair or just
