Before we get to this standard, we must understand that in Ethics, there are two types of Ethical Standards:

Consequential Ethical StandardsNonconsequential Ethical Standards

What is the difference between these two types of standards?

Consequential Standards

The moral worth of the action (its goodness or badness) is determined solely by the end or consequent promoted.

In other words, the end justifies the means

This type of standard is usually worded in one of two ways:

An action is morally good if it promotes _________________

Everyone should always act so as to promote ______________________

Note: In this type of standard, there is nothing about the action itself that makes it good or bad; rather the goodness or badness of the action is determined only by the end or consequent promoted.

What are some examples of this type of standard?

Universal Ethical EgoismUtilitarianismTheological EudaemonismRational EudaemonismEthical Pluralism

Nonconsequential Standards:

These standards state that the moral worth of the action is not determined by the end or consequent promoted

The end never justifies the meansRather, there is something about the action

itself, intrinsic to it, that makes it either good or bad

How are these standards worded?

Always as so as to ______________________________.

What are some nonconsequential standards:

ActRule (Divine Command Theory; Kant’s

Imperatives

So what standard are we going to start with?

Utilitarianism

What type of ethical standard is it?

It is a consequential ethical standard

What is a consequential ethical standard? I forgot.

It is a standard that holds that the moral worth of the action is determined by the end or consequent promoted; hence its name ‘consequential.’

What is it?

It is a consequential standard that states that an action is morally good if it promotes the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain for the greatest number affected by the action, even it it brings harm to a minority.

There are two types of utilitarianism:

RuleAct

Rule Utilitarianism

Main proponent is John Stuart MillIt differs from act utilitarianism in three

ways: in the definition of ‘pleasure,’ in who is affected, and in the method used to determine how the greatest amount of pleasure is determined.

Act Utilitarianism

The main proponent of this type is Jeremy Bentham

Again, it differs from Rule Utilitarianism in the definition of ‘pleasure,’ in who is affected, and in the method used to determine the greatest amount of pleasure

What is meant by the word ‘pleasure?

ActAll types of pleasures,

both strictly human and those that are not strictly human

That is, sensual and strictly human pleasures

RuleOnly strictly human

pleasures

What are the pleasures that are not strictly human?

Pleasure we get from eating, drinking, sleeping, reproducing, having shelter, etc.

What are the strictly human pleasures?

IntellectualEmotionalAestheticSpiritualAltruisticSocial

So, according to Mill:

We should always act so as to bring about the greatest amount of strictly human pleasure and the least amount

of pain to the greatest number of humans affected.

And according to Bentham:

We should always act so as to bring about the greatest amount of all types of pleasures and the least amount of

pain to the greatest number of all sentient beings affected.

How does the ‘method’ differ?

In Act Utilitarianism you use a calculation process:

CertaintyProximityIntensityDurationPurenessChances that it will lead to other pleasuresHow many people are affected?

Method used in Rule Utilitarianism:

Follow the laws!!!!!!!

Problems with Act Utilitarianism?

Requires you to predict future consequences/outcomes of your decisions/actions, so a future prediction is what is determining the moral worth of your action

Requires you to put a number on emotions/pleasures

Requires you to predict how someone else will feel about your action/decision

Problems With Rule Utilitarianism

There are unjust lawsLaws for the most part tell us what not to

do, not what to doNot all of our moral dilemmas will have

applicable laws to help guide us