JOHN ALCON D.

JERAO BSECE-5
UTILITARIAN ETHICS

I. MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE

T 1. Utilitarian is based on the calculus of pleasure

According to Mill, Utilitarian is that happiness is the intended pleasure.

T 2. J.S Mill argues for the quality of happiness.

Because the quality of happiness is the foundation of morals. He argues
that happiness is the sole basis of morality, and that people never desire anything
but happiness.

T 3. Utility is an intrinsic property of the act.

According to Jeremy Bentham, Utility is means that one property in every
object , which tends to produce some benefit, advantage, pleasure, or happiness or
to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose
interest is considered.

T 4. Human happiness is the chief good.

Because it’s the only good that can be sought for itself, the thing that each
and every one of us wants to have.

T 5. Pleasure must be for the majority.

Because pleasure is the consequences of an act, determines whether or not an
act is worth doing. And if his/her action is bad or any disadvantages it is not worth
doing.

T 6. Utilitarian is a metaphysical doctrine.

Because Utilitarian is a metaphysical doctrine that would provide us the
guidelines for good human behavior and intended to reach a desired outcome.

T 7. Proximity refers to the frequency of pleasure.

Because it is what provides the greatest in terms of the utility of any act.

T 8. Fecundity is the capacity to produce more pleasure.

Because Fecundity is the ability to produces something and it affects the
social good. That’s why the capacity of it is to produce more pleasure.

T 9. Maximum utility is the absolute standard.

Because the rule of Utilitarianism maintains that an action is right if it
conforms to a rule that maximizes utility.

T 10. Morality is a matter of common sense.

Because Morality is primarily a matter of how we should treat others, for
the good of everyone.
II. EXPLAINATION. Explain the following concepts:

1. Act utilitarianism versus rule utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism necessitates that all the consequences of each human

action should result to general happiness. Therefore, all actions should
possesses the attribute of the “greatest benefit for the greatest number”.
Utilitarian morality proceeds from the claim that the good act is one that
generates the maximum amount of pleasure and the least in terms of
pain.

Rule Utilitarianism would consider the notion that moral action is that
which belongs to the kind of acts, by way of common experience, that
results to maximum utility. This means that we are no longer required to
consider all the merits and demerits of an act.
The difference is that while Act utilitarianism requires that individuals
must act in order to realize pleasure, Rule utilitarianism simply sets
standards for morality to achieve the same result.

2. Hedonistic Calculus

Utilitarian judges the rightness or wrongness of an act through a

“hedonistic calculus”, or the “measurement of pleasure or happiness.”
To be able to strengthen the point that pleasure is the basic moral good,
pleasure should be estimated. There has to be a standard of measure,
some sort of a norm to be able to put forward the claim that pleasure is
the greatest good. If pleasure is non-measurable, then it cannot be
standard, since what people think and feel about pleasure are different.

3. Maximum Utility

The essential difference is in what determines whether or not an action is

the right action. Act utilitarianism maintains that an action is right if it
maximizes utility; rule utilitarianism simply maintains that an action is
right if it conforms to a rule that maximizes utility.

4. Human Happiness

Human Happiness is the chief good in our lives because it’s the only
good that can be sought for itself, the thing that each and every one of us
wants to have. And it defines as the ultimate good.
According to Mill, he says that happiness is the intended pleasure and
the absence of pain and by unhappiness, pain and the privation of
pleasure. We act in terms of benefit or advantage. An act is undesirable
if it results to loss or disadvantage.
III. APPLICATION: Is Philippine society more of a Utilitarian or
Kantian society? Why do you say so? Cite concrete examples. Are you
happy with it?

The Philippine society is more of Kantian society, Kantian society being

defined as “the rightness and wrongness of actions does not depend on
their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty”.
For me we have a Kantian Society here in the Philippines because we
have a strong government that implements law for everyone that does
not depend on the consequences.
For example some of our military and police tend to kill someone that
who have been involved in drugs in fact some of them are victims that
are only accused for using drugs but we can do nothing about it for it is
their duty and some of them don’t think for any consequences for what
they have done.
At some point I am not happy about it because it is unfair for everyone
in the society when they don’t meet their justice.