1answer.
Ask question
Login Signup
Ask question
All categories
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Business
  • History
  • Health
  • Geography
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Technology
  • Arts
  • World Languages
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • SAT
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Engineering
storchak [24]
2 years ago
6

Why have some criticized utilitarianism on the basis that it is the ‘morality of swine’? How does Mill address this objection?

Social Studies
1 answer:
Elodia [21]2 years ago
6 0

Answer:

Explanation:

As a theory, utilitarianism is usually thought to start with Jeremy Bentham, however, similar ideas were evident in the writings of David Hume in An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1)and Francis Hutchinson, whom David Hume studied under, in his An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue (2). Utilitarianism tells us an act is moral insofar as it creates the greatest good for the greatest number. It tells us to take the amount of happiness distributed between sentient beings and look at which distribution is going to maximise the amount of happiness. It gives a systematic answer. Throughout the past two centuries utilitarianism has been very influential within practical disciplines of politics and economics. As a result, utilitarianism has had an influence modern life, particularly public policy. What could be more important when making political deliberations than aiming to make people’s lives better and less unhappy?

One of the first utilitarian theorisers, Jeremy Bentham, is famously credited for being the founder of the doctrine. Bentham defined utility as “instrumental to happiness”. He believes that all judgements of good and bad can be based on pleasure and pain. He is seen as an advocate of psychological hedonism. In his famous introduction of An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1979), Bentham states “Nature has placed man under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.” Therefore, pain and pleasure provide the basis for his moral theory of ‘what we ought to do’. Initially, he began his career by studying law and then moved on to moral ethics in order to advise legislators. He was primarily interested in improving the law and his goal for the legislator was the utilitarian principle or the greatest happiness principle. Therefore, his advice was not initially aimed for individuals and their life choices but for the legislator. Although Bentham sees pleasure as the key of explaining how human beings act, he relies more often on the concept of pain when constructing his legal theory. While he does endorse act-utilitarianism, his ‘sanction-based’ theory of obligation is more applicable to the legal system he was so interested in improving.

John Stuart Mill is also one of the most well-known utilitarian thinkers and defenders of the theory. His celebrated thoughts can be found in his famous essay: Utilitarianism. Mill observes something of a crisis in moral thinking. Philosophical thinkers have been unable to come to a consensus on the principle of what constitutes right and wrong. Mill argues that having such a foundation is necessary to legitimise morality. This is why the theory of utilitarianism is so important.

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill categorise and measure utility and pleasure in different ways. Bentham uses the hedonic calculus which decides the value of pleasure by seven measures of quantity: duration, intensity, certainty or uncertainty, remoteness or propinquity, fecundity, extent and purity. Bentham is well-known for his treating of all pleasures as of equal value. By this he means not that all pleasures are of exactly equal, but that the legislator who his work on utilitarianism is aimed at should not be valuing one pleasure above another.

John Stuart Mil’s idea of higher and lower pleasures has been viewed as flawed in itself. It has been criticised as a self-serving idea. For example, an intellectual will view his preferred enjoyments as a higher, more important pleasure. Therefore, as an intellectual, it could be argued that Mill himself is biased towards what constitutes as higher and lower pleasures.

You might be interested in
Three factors a judge considers when setting bail? DOES ANYONE KNOW?
vlada-n [284]
A persons record has alot to do with it.  They normally consider the severity of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it.  Some crimes put a person ineligible for bail.  A persons record is another consideration.  Someone who has a long record may be subject to bigger bail amounts, if any at all.  Another thing, if a problematic person has tendencies for being late to court, or not showing up at all.  Judges have been know to look at a persons family life and employment status.  A persons reputation can really count.  I hope this has given you enough information. 
3 0
3 years ago
What was accomplished by members of the second continental congress in philadelphia
solniwko [45]

They established the Continental Army. They made George Washington General of the Army.

The greatest legacy left by the Second Continental Congress of Philadelphia was the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776, which marked the beginning of a long military dispute between the revolting settlers and English loyalists.

It ended with a resounding victory for the rebels, who founded a Republic (a year before the French Revolution!) In the Americas, guided by the principles of political freedom and the supremacy of the popular will.

6 0
3 years ago
List the reason of the victory of Nepalese side in the middle region but defeat in the West.
dimulka [17.4K]

Answer:

The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816, which ceded some Nepalese-controlled territory to the EIC. Result British victory with Treaty of Sugauli, (March 4, 1816), an agreement between the Gurkha chiefs of Nepal and the British Indian government that ended the Anglo-Nepalese (Gurkha) War (1814–16).

Explanation:

Political and economic problems are the main causes of the Anglo-Nepal war. the growing strength of Nepal's army was a threat for the British and Nepal was the only way to reach Tibet.

5 0
3 years ago
Which age range has the highest rate of poverty?
dexar [7]
You usually enter poverty as you age so according to a government census most people 75-80 are in poverty
8 0
3 years ago
How did the Nile River affect ancient Egypt’s development?   Choose all answers that are correct.   A. People settled along the
Umnica [9.8K]
I'm gonna go with B or D, let me know if I'm wrong
7 0
3 years ago
Other questions:
  • At the corpus callosum, __________ occurs between the two hemispheres. A. integration B. processing C. thinking D. communication
    6·2 answers
  • What is the major economic activity of Uruguay ?
    5·1 answer
  • Read the sentence a student wrote. As he listened to the haunting notes of the song the author realized he had found the inspira
    9·2 answers
  • On a field study in the tropics, you discover a new species of millipede! After careful work to determine the size and range of
    7·1 answer
  • Which two religions came from South Africa
    12·1 answer
  • Definition of anschluss​
    8·2 answers
  • Four year old shelley watches her 16 year old cousin, tamara, apply makeup for a date with her boyfriend. the next day shelly ru
    15·2 answers
  • The difficult child has what kind of response?
    14·1 answer
  • How does having a large sample in an opinion poll affect the results of the poll?
    8·1 answer
  • Imagine that you are a juror in a murder case where an eyewitness testifies. In what ways might your knowledge of memory errors
    6·1 answer
Add answer
Login
Not registered? Fast signup
Signup
Login Signup
Ask question!