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WorksheetsAct Utilitarianism
Total questions: 14
Worksheet time: 7mins
What can Utilitarianism also be known as?
The Theory of Awfulness
The Theory of Rationality
The Theory of Usefulness
The Theory of Theology
Classical Utilitarianism (also known as Act Utilitarianism) was proposed by which philosopher?
Jeremy Bentham
John Stuart Mill
David Hume
St Thomas Aquinas
What is the ultimate aim according to Bentham?
To only think about one's self
To seek to have a list of rules so humanity knows how to behave
To follow the commandments of God
To seek pleasure and avoid pain
The ultimate aim of Utilitarianism is to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Which of these answers explains why this is the aim according to Bentham?
The desire for pleasure is universal
Asceticism is the only way to achieve happiness
The goodness and badness of an act cannot be determined
All acts are intrinsically good or bad
The 'Principle of Utility' can be used to judge actions. What does this mean?
Do what makes you the most happy (individual happiness comes first).
An action is right if it promotes and maximises happiness and limits the amount of pain.
Utilitarianism is an egoistic (selfish/self-centred) theory.
When judging the goodness or badness of an act, we must only look at the amount of happiness it creates and ignore the amount of pain that will result.
Bentham wanted to make ethical calculations as scientific as possible; what did he develop to achieve this?
Relativistic Calculus
Hedonic Calculus
Altruistic Calculus
Monarchistic Calculus
How many criteria did Bentham have in his hedonic calculus?
5
7
9
12
Which of the following is NOT one of the seven criteria of the hedonic calculus?
Duration
Richness
Purity
Hedone
Intensity
'Act Utilitarianism' is a term that is applied retrospectively to Bentham's theory: what does this mean?
Bentham coined (came up with) the phrase Act Utilitarianism himself.
Act Utilitarianism is a phrase associated with Jeremy Bentham later, but was not created by him.
Utilitarians are described as hedonists. This mean they seek what?
Pleasure
Pain
Love
Community
Utilitarianism is a secular theory. What does this mean?
Non-religious
Judges the consequence of the action
Concerned with the end goal/outcome
Judges the action itself and whether it complies to laws or duties.
Utilitarianism is a teleological theory. What does this mean?
Non-religious
Judges the consequence of the action
Concerned with the end goal/outcome
Judges the action itself and whether it complies to laws or duties.
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist. What does this mean?
Non-religious
Judges the consequence of the action
Concerned with the end goal/outcome
Judges the action itself and whether it complies to laws or duties.
Bentham coined the term 'the greatest happiness for the greatest number'.
True
False
