Preston has always wanted a fancy sports car, but has never been able to afford to buy one. One day, he walks by his dream car, unlocked with the keys inside. Preston considers stealing the car, but ultimately decides that the risk of ending up in jail is not worth it. What term describes Preston's thought process as he considered stealing the car?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preston's thought process is described by the "hedonistic calculus," which is a concept where individuals weigh the pleasures and pains of an action before deciding to proceed. This concept is often associated with utilitarianism and the work of Jeremy Bentham, suggesting that people make decisions based on the potential for pleasure or pain. In this scenario, Preston weighs the pleasure of having the car against the pain (risk) of potential jail time.

Preston Has Always Wanted a Fancy Sports Car, but Has