Chapter 7 What do consequentialist ethical theories require? Who is Mozi? What did he believe? What is utilitarianism? What is the principle of utility? What does maximizing utility mean? What is Bentham’s hedonistic calculus? What does it include? What is the equal consideration of interests? What is the direct approach (act consequentialism)?

QUESTION

Type your answers to the questions using complete sentences and adequate information. Do not copy phrases from the book. Use your own words and briefly explain your responses.

1. What do consequentialist ethical theories require?
2. Who is Mozi? What did he believe?
3. What is utilitarianism?
4. What is the principle of utility? What does maximizing utility mean?
5. What is Bentham’s hedonistic calculus? What does it include?
6. What is the equal consideration of interests?
7. What is the direct approach (act consequentialism)?
8. What is the indirect approach (rule utilitarianism)?
9. How are the direct approach and indirect approach similar and different?
10. Explain the first challenge to utilitarianism.
11. Explain the second challenge to utilitarianism.
12. What is the difference between required ethical conduct and supererogatory ethical conduct?
13. Explain the third challenge to utilitarianism.
14. Explain the fourth challenge to utilitarianism.
15. What is the difference between expected consequences and actual consequences?

16. ANSWER

17. Understanding Utilitarianism: Principles, Challenges, and Consequences

    Consequentialist ethical theories, also known as teleological theories, require that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its consequences. According to consequentialism, the ends justify the means, and the ethical value of an action lies in the overall outcome it produces.

    Don't use plagiarized sources. Get Your Custom Essay on

    Chapter 7 What do consequentialist ethical theories require? Who is Mozi? What did he believe? What is utilitarianism? What is the principle of utility? What does maximizing utility mean? What is Bentham’s hedonistic calculus? What does it include? What is the equal consideration of interests? What is the direct approach (act consequentialism)?

    Just from $13/Page

    Order Essay

    Mozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher who lived during the 5th century BCE. He was a prominent figure in the Mohist school of thought, which advocated for social harmony and universal love. Mozi believed in impartial caring and argued for the equal treatment of all individuals, emphasizing the importance of benevolence and rejecting favoritism.

    Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory that was developed by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. It posits that the right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people.

    The principle of utility, also known as the greatest happiness principle, is the foundational concept in utilitarianism. It states that actions are morally right if they produce the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure and minimize suffering or pain for the majority of people affected by the action (Tardi, 2023a). Maximizing utility means selecting the course of action that generates the most favorable consequences in terms of overall well-being.

    Bentham’s hedonistic calculus is a quantitative method used to determine the amount of pleasure or pain produced by a particular action. It includes various factors such as intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity (nearness), fecundity (likelihood of leading to more pleasure or pain), purity (likelihood of leading to only one type of pleasure or pain), and extent (number of people affected).

    The equal consideration of interests is the idea that all individuals’ interests should be given equal weight or consideration when determining the moral value of an action. This principle emphasizes fairness and rejects any form of discrimination or bias based on personal characteristics or preferences.

    The direct approach, also known as act consequentialism, focuses on evaluating the consequences of individual actions. It determines the moral rightness or wrongness of each specific action based on the expected or actual consequences it produces.

    The indirect approach, or rule utilitarianism, looks at the consequences of following general rules or principles rather than evaluating each individual action in isolation. It suggests that moral rules should be established based on their overall utility and adherence to these rules leads to the best consequences.

    Both the direct approach and indirect approach share the consequentialist perspective, as they consider consequences as the key determinant of ethical value. However, they differ in the level of analysis. The direct approach focuses on evaluating specific actions, while the indirect approach looks at the consequences of following general rules.

    The first challenge to utilitarianism is the demandingness objection. Critics argue that utilitarianism imposes excessive burdens on individuals, as it requires them to always act in a way that maximizes overall utility, even at the expense of personal well-being or important individual values.

    The second challenge is the problem of justice. Some argue that utilitarianism fails to adequately protect individual rights and can justify unfair actions if they lead to greater overall happiness. This challenge raises concerns about the potential for utilitarianism to undermine principles of fairness and justice.

    Required ethical conduct refers to actions that are morally obligatory and necessary to fulfill one’s moral duties (Supererogation (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), 2019). Supererogatory ethical conduct, on the other hand, goes beyond what is morally required and involves actions that are considered morally praiseworthy or commendable but not obligatory.

    The third challenge to utilitarianism is the issue of measurement and calculation. Critics argue that it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately measure and compare different types of pleasure or happiness. This challenge raises doubts about the feasibility of applying utilitarian principles in practice.

    The fourth challenge is the problem of predicting consequences. Since utilitarianism relies on predicting the future outcomes of actions, it can be challenging to accurately anticipate all the potential consequences (Card & Smith, 2020). This challenge highlights the inherent uncertainty involved in making ethical decisions based on the principle of utility.

    Expected consequences refer to the anticipated outcomes of an action based on predictions or calculations. They are the results that are expected to occur if everything goes as planned. Actual consequences, on the other hand, are the real outcomes that actually occur after the action has been taken. They may differ from the expected consequences due to unforeseen factors or events.

    References

    Card, D., & Smith, N. A. (2020). On Consequentialism and Fairness. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2020.00034 

    Supererogation (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2019, November 5). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/supererogation/ 

    Tardi, C. (2023a). Utilitarianism: What It Is, Founders, and Main Principles. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/utilitarianism.asp