Question 1

Because utilitarianism is a/an ______ doctrine,they want to make the world a better place for all and increase the extent of well-being throughout the world.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

For utilitarians,morality is nothing more than ______.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarians believe that the moral goal is to bring about the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people. Therefore, morality is nothing more than an attempt to maximize happiness.

Question 3

What emphasizes the effects of an action,and if an action produces more beneficial effects than harmful effects,it is considered an ethical action?

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism emphasizes the effects of an action and holds that if an action produces more beneficial effects than harmful effects, it is considered ethical. Hedonism is a philosophical position that emphasizes pleasure and happiness as the highest values, while ethicalism and morality are broad terms that encompass various ethical theories and principles.

Question 4

Mill referred to the principle of utility as the greatest ______ principle.

Accepted Answer

Mill referred to the principle of utility as the greatest happiness principle, as his ethical theory advocated for actions that promote the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 5

Bentham and Mill associated pleasure with ______.

Accepted Answer

Bentham and Mill associated pleasure with happiness. They believed that actions should be judged based on their ability to produce the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. This approach is known as utilitarianism.

Question 6

Which famous philosopher is considered to have originated the doctrine of consequentialism?

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham is considered to have originated the doctrine of consequentialism, which is the idea that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences. While other philosophers before him, such as Aristotle, considered the consequences of actions, Bentham is credited with developing a systematic ethical theory centered around this idea.

Question 7

Which famous philosopher is said to have provided a more refined version of the doctrine of consequentialism?

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill is known for providing a more refined version of the doctrine of consequentialism, which he called utilitarianism. He argued that actions should be evaluated based on their ability to bring about the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 8

The hedonistic calculus has ______ elements.

Accepted Answer

The hedonistic calculus, proposed by Jeremy Bentham, has seven elements. These are intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent.

Question 9

What is an important and widely discussed theory of ethical action and establishes that what makes an act morally right or wrong is its consequences and nothing more?

Accepted Answer

Consequentialism is a theory of ethical action that asserts that the morality of an action is determined solely by its consequences. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 10

John Stuart Mill equated pleasure and ______.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill equated pleasure and happiness, and believed that actions and policies should aim to maximize the overall happiness of society.

Question 11

For consequentialists,the ultimate goal of morality is to ______.

Accepted Answer

Consequentialists believe that the ultimate goal of morality is to create the best possible consequences for everyone affected by an action or decision. This means that the goal is to make the world a better place for all, rather than just maximizing self-interest or creating a perfect world. Creating a Nirvana is not a goal for consequentialists as it pertains to a spiritual or religious concept, which may not be shared by all individuals.

Question 12

Mill was criticized for which aspect of his doctrine which was categorized by many as being "worthy of swine"?

Accepted Answer

Mill's doctrine was criticized for being hedonistic, meaning it prioritizes pleasure and happiness above all else. Some saw this as a shallow and selfish philosophy, unworthy of higher pursuits. Some even went so far as to compare it to the desires of a pig, hence the association with swine.

Question 13

Bentham developed a method for calculating pleasure versus pain,known as the ______ calculus.

Accepted Answer

Bentham developed the hedonistic calculus, which is a method for measuring the amount of pleasure versus pain that results from a particular action or decision. It takes into account factors such as intensity, duration, certainty, and extent of the pleasure or pain.

Question 14

With regard to what may be good for ourselves,______.

Accepted Answer

Acknowledging what may be good for ourselves is important in making decisions about our own well-being, but it does not mean that we have to act selfishly or disregard the well-being of others. We can make choices that benefit ourselves while also being considerate of others.

Question 15

The motives for the act or the nature of the act itself are not important considerations for ______.

Accepted Answer

Consequentialists believe that the morality of an action is determined solely by its consequences, not the motives or nature of the act itself.

Question 16

______ reject the idea that actions are right because God says they are or because they are inherently moral in their own right.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarians reject the idea that actions are right just because God says so or because they are inherently moral. Instead, they believe that the morality of an action depends on whether it brings about the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 17

Two early consequentialist or utilitarian theorists were Jeremy Bentham and ______.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill were both early consequentialist or utilitarian theorists. Emmanuel Kant, on the other hand, was a deontological theorist who believed in the importance of universal moral laws, while Thomas Kent and Karl Sondheim are not significant figures in the history of philosophy.

Question 18

Consequentialist theorists are also known as ______.

Accepted Answer

Consequentialist theorists believe that the moral worth or rightness of an action is determined solely by its outcome or consequence. Utilitarianism is a famous consequentialist theory, which holds that the best course of action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people.

Question 19

The theory of hedonism contends that ______.

Accepted Answer

The theory of hedonism states that pleasure (or happiness) is the ultimate intrinsic good and that all actions are motivated by the desire to experience pleasure and avoid pain. It is often associated with philosophers such as Epicurus, Bentham, and Mill.

Question 20

Mill argued ______ that the only ultimate value is pleasure or happiness,and he appears to equate the two.

Accepted Answer

Mill believes that the ultimate value is pleasure or happiness, which means he is a hedonist who equates the two.

Quiz 13: Considering the Consequences