Pleasure maximisation → morally right action
Bentham’s hedonic calculus is a list of 7 criteria, including intensity and duration, used to calculate how much pleasure an action will produce.
Act utilitarianism requires doing the action that produces the greatest net pleasure after applying the hedonic calculus. — Bentham
Assess pleasure → calculate net pleasure → act
1. What does Bentham’s principle of utility use to determine whether an action is good?
2. What does consequentialism primarily evaluate when judging an action?
3. What is Bentham’s hedonic calculus designed to calculate?
What does the principle of utility state about an action?
An action is good if it maximises pleasure.
How does consequentialism evaluate an action?
By the consequences it produces.
What did Bentham claim about human nature and pleasure?
Human nature finds pleasure good and values nothing else.
Which author stated the principle of utility that an action is good if it maximises pleasure?
Bentham.
Which author claimed human beings are incapable of valuing anything besides pleasure?
Bentham.
What is Bentham's hedonic calculus used to calculate?
How much pleasure an action will produce.
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