Utilitarianism – Flashcards

According to utilitarianism, an act that makes some people happy and others unhappy can never be morally right. T/F

According to utilitarianism which of the following is useful for evaluating the morality of an action? A. The result. B. People's intentions. C. The process of accomplishing the result. D. The nature of the act.

According to the principle of utility, a morally right action is one that produces at least as much good (utility) for all people affected by the action as any alternative action that could be performed. T/F

Both Bentham and Mill hold that some pleasures are better in kind than others. T/F

According to utilitarians the right act is: A. the act that is established by the customs and laws of society. B. any act that lessens sorrow and suffering. C. the act that produces the greatest balance of pleasure over suffering. D. known by intuition. E. whatever feels good.

One basic challenge to utilitarian ethics is that for many people: A. pleasure is indistinguishable from pain. B. pleasure does not exist. C. suffering is a source of pleasure. D. pleasure is not their goal. E. pleasure is considered sinful.

What is an important difference between utilitarianism and ethical egoism? A. Utilitarianism says we should consider everyone's interests, whereas ethical egoism says people should act in their own self-interest. B. Utilitarianism concerns how people should act, while ethical egoism concerns how people do act. C. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory, and ethical egoism isn't. D. There is none, since "utilitarianism" and "ethical egoism" are different names for the same theory.

The following is an example of the reasoning of a rule utilitarian: "If the practice of lying is bad, then one ought not to lie now, even if in this case to lie would actually bring about better consequences." T/F

Utilitarianism is an egoistic moral theory. T/F

Both ethical egoists and utilitarians are consequentialists. T/F

Which of the following is not necessary to act morally according to utilitarianism? A. To consider all the variables involved in an action. B. To produce a result that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. C. To consider all people to be of equal value. D. To act as the majority wishes.

What does the Principle of Utility state? A. Act not for that which is unfree; act only for that which knows freedom. B. One ought to act so that no one is used more than necessary to achieve one's ends. C. Harm must be avoided in all cases D. Act to produce the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people.

The reason that Mill believes that pleasure is the only intrinsic good is because he believes that it is the only thing that everyone desires for its own sake. T/F

Utilitarians hold that deciding what act is right: A. requires careful consideration of many factors and likely consequences. B. is the proper work of government leaders and not of ordinary citizens. C. iIs impossible, and not worth trying. D. should be carried out by ethical specialists, and others should accept their judgments. E. is always simple and the answer is obvious.

Nozick uses his example of a pleasure machine to: A. support utilitarian ethics. B. extend utilitarian ethics to other fields. C. criticize utilitarian ethics. D. support act-utilitarianism and oppose rule-utilitarianism. E. support rule-utilitarianism and oppose act-utilitarianism.

Utilitarianism rejects the claim that the end justifies the means. T/F

Rule Utilitarianism asks that we consider the consequences of each act A. On the greatest number. B. Separately. C. According to a clear set of rules. D. As a general practice.

A difficulty for all consequentialist theories is that A. No set of moral rules can anticipate all the necessary exceptions. B. They are inconsistent with the moral foundations of the care-giving professions. C. I can know what's good for me, but only guess what's good for others. D. We can't possibly foresee all the consequences of any of our actions.

According to act utilitarianism, if it produces more net utility or pleasure to give money that I had promised to return to a friend to famine relief instead, then I ought to give it to the relief fund. T/F

Which of the following is not included in calculating the amount of happiness? A. Likelihood. B. Intensity. C. Duration. D. Cost.

For Classical (early) Utilitarians, happiness and pleasure are the only: A. instrumental goods. B. important goods. C. intrinsic goods. D. real goods.

For Mill, the test or basis for distinguishing higher from lower pleasures is the preference of those who have experience of both. T/F

One similarity between Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism is that: A. both emphasize moral duties over ends or consequences. B. both see honesty as the highest moral duty. C. both emphasize ends or consequences over moral duties. D. both emphasize individual rights over social goods.

What's the relationship between utilitarianism and consequentialism? A. Utilitarianism is one kind of consequentialism. B. They are diametrically opposed ethical theories. C. Consequentialism is one kind of utilitarianism. D. They are the same thing.