Question 1

Which two philosophers are generally credited with developing the theory of utilitarianism?
A) René Descartes and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
B) Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
C) Immanuel Kant and G. W. F. Hegel
D) David Hume and Adam Smith

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are generally credited with developing the theory of utilitarianism.

Question 2

Critics charge that act-utilitarianism's most serious problem is that it conflicts with commonsense views about:
A) love
B) utility
C) justice
D) happiness

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarianism holds that the right action in any situation is the one that produces the greatest overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. However, this approach may conflict with commonsense views about justice, which demand that every individual be treated equally and fairly, regardless of the outcome for the majority. For example, it would be considered unjust to allow the sacrifice of an innocent individual for the greater good of others, even if it maximizes overall utility.

Question 3

A major criticism of ethical egoism is that it:
A) is not consistent with cultural norms
B) does not maximize utility
C) is consistent with selfish acts
D) is not consistent with our considered moral judgments

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism posits that individuals ought to promote their own self-interest without regard for the interests of others. This view contradicts several of our considered moral judgments, such as the belief that it is wrong to harm others and that we ought to help those in need. Thus, ethical egoism is not consistent with our considered moral judgments.

Question 4

An ethical egoist does whatever she desires to do or whatever gives her the most immediate pleasure.

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is the theory that individuals ought to act in their own self-interest. However, this does not necessarily mean that an ethical egoist should do whatever gives them the most immediate pleasure. Rather, they should consider their long-term self-interest and act in a way that maximizes their own well-being. Additionally, ethical egoism does not advocate for selfish or harmful actions towards others, but rather for actions that benefit oneself without causing harm to others.

Question 5

A major problem with utilitarianism is that it does not promote human welfare.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that aims to maximize overall well-being or happiness. Therefore, its goal is to promote human welfare or the greatest good for the greatest number of people. However, criticisms of utilitarianism include disagreements about how to measure happiness and well-being and concerns about the treatment of minorities or individuals whose well-being may be sacrificed for the greater good. Overall, utilitarianism's focus on promoting human welfare is a core tenet of the theory.

Question 6

What matters most in act-utilitarianism is how much net happiness comes directly from performing an action,as opposed to following a rule that applies to such actions.

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of a specific action and weighs the net happiness it produces. It prioritizes direct outcomes over following rules or principles. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 7

Self-interest is a pillar on which the economic system of capitalism is built.

Accepted Answer

Self-interest, or the pursuit of one's own financial gain, is a central principle of capitalism. This is because in a competitive marketplace, individuals and businesses are driven by the desire to maximize profits and minimize expenses. This self-interested behavior is believed to help allocate resources efficiently and create economic growth.

Question 8

Psychological egoism is a scientific theory,not a moral theory.

Accepted Answer

Psychological egoism is a descriptive theory that aims to explain human behavior in terms of self-interest, rather than a normative theory that prescribes what people should do. It is not concerned with whether self-interested behavior is right or wrong, but rather with whether it is a fundamental motivation that drives behavior.

Question 9

To achieve happiness,we must pursue other aims,the pursuit of which yields happiness as a by-product.

Accepted Answer

Pursuing happiness directly is unlikely to result in sustained happiness. Instead, pursuing other goals or purposes that are meaningful to us can bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, which in turn can lead to happiness as a by-product.

Question 10

John Stuart Mill's conception of happiness is more or less identical to Jeremy Bentham's.

Accepted Answer

While Mill was heavily influenced by Bentham's utilitarianism, he had a different view on happiness. Mill believed that happiness consisted not only of pleasure but also of intellectual and moral pursuits. He believed that higher pleasures, such as the pursuit of knowledge and virtue, were more valuable than lower pleasures, such as physical or sensual pleasures. This is known as Mill's "qualitative hedonism."

Question 11

An act-utilitarian could conceivably conclude that the killing of one innocent person to save the lives of a thousand other people is a morally acceptable action.

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarianism states that the moral value of an action is determined by its ability to maximize overall happiness or pleasure. In this scenario, if the act of killing one innocent person results in the greater amount of happiness or pleasure by saving the lives of a thousand other people, then an act-utilitarian would consider it to be a morally acceptable action.

Question 12

An important criticism of act-utilitarianism is that it is often inconsistent with our considered judgments about justice.

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarianism focuses solely on maximizing overall utility or happiness, which can lead to disregarding the rights and interests of individuals or minorities, resulting in unjust outcomes. This goes against our intuitions and beliefs about justice, which prioritize fairness and treating individuals equally.

Question 13

Act-utilitarianism fails Criterion 2 (consistency with our moral experience).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Act-utilitarianism fails Criterion 2 (consistency with our...

Question 14

Utilitarianism incorporates the principle of impartiality.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism seeks to maximize overall happiness or utility, without giving preference to any particular individual or group. This requires impartiality and a focus on the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 15

Critics of rule-utilitarianism say that:
A) its rules are too demanding
B) it collapses into act-utilitarianism
C) it is no different than Kantian ethics
D) rules cannot be formulated

Accepted Answer

Critics of rule-utilitarianism argue that it can collapse into act-utilitarianism, as the focus on following rules may not always lead to the greatest overall happiness. In other words, if a situation arises where breaking a rule would create more overall happiness, the rule-utilitarian may feel obligated to follow the rule regardless, which could lead to suboptimal outcomes. However, the other options listed (A, C, and D) are not accurate criticisms of rule-utilitarianism.

Question 16

One response that act-utilitarians make to the "no-rest problem" is that:
A) we need not try to maximize utility for literally everyone considered
B) our moral common sense is never mistaken
C) we should be willing to perform, as our duty, many actions that are usually considered supererogatory
D) we have no moral duties at all

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarians argue that we should be willing to perform actions that maximize utility, even if they are typically seen as going above and beyond moral duty, to address the "no-rest problem."

Question 17

Ethical egoism is the theory that:
A) selfishness is the whole of morality
B) the right action is the one that advances one's own best interests
C) the right action is the one that maximizes pleasure for oneself
D) the right action is the one that maximizes happiness for everyone concerned

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is the theory that the right action is the one that advances one's own best interests, even if it means disregarding the interests of others. This means that selfishness is considered morally acceptable under this theory as long as one's own interests are being served. Option A is too extreme as it states that selfishness is the entirety of morality. Option C refers to hedonism, which is a different ethical theory. Option D describes utilitarianism, which prioritizes the happiness of everyone, not just oneself.

Question 18

The primary argument for ethical egoism:
A) depends heavily on psychological egoism
B) depends heavily on act-utilitarianism
C) is the argument from selfishness
D) is the argument from false altruism

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is often supported by psychological egoism, which suggests that people naturally act in their own self-interest, thus providing a basis for the normative claim that they ought to do so.

Question 19

Act-utilitarianism is the theory that:
A) the morally right action is the one covered by a rule that, if generally followed, would produce the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered
B) right actions are those that directly produce the greatest overall good, everyone considered
C) right actions are those that advance one's own best interests
D) right actions are those that conform to our moral intuitions

Accepted Answer

Act-utilitarianism is the belief that the right action is the one that produces the greatest overall good, taking into account everyone affected by the action. This means that the action that produces the most pleasure and the least pain is the morally correct one. This differs from rule-utilitarianism, which focuses on following rules that result in the greatest overall good, rather than on individual actions. Choices A, C, and D do not accurately describe act-utilitarianism.

Question 20

Utilitarianism reminds us that the consequences of our actions do indeed make a difference in our moral deliberations.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that evaluates the morality of actions based on their outcomes or consequences. Therefore, it emphasizes that the consequences of our actions play a crucial role in our moral decisions.

Quiz 5: Consequentialist Theories: Maximize the Good

Which two philosophers are generally credited with developing the theory of utilitarianism?

Critics charge that act-utilitarianism's most serious problem is that it conflicts with commonsense views about:

A major criticism of ethical egoism is that it: