Question

question completion status:
this is what matters most to those who believe in utilitarianism:

1. individual autonomy
2. outcomes
3. group privilege
4. personal self interest

question 12
which of the following is the standard for benthanian utilitarian happiness?

1. pleasure
2. reason
3. duty - keeping
4. excellence

question 13
preference utilitarianism deals successfully with the issue of incommensurability inability to compare of feelings and perceptions when it comes to the utilitarian calculus.
true
false
question 14
act utilitarianism focuses exclusively on

1. past actions and the commitments they entail
2. altruism
3. a current particular action and its specific consequences
4. rights

question 15
j. j. c smart argues in favor of

1. common sense notions of morality
2. almost always - acting rules
3. unconditional rational maximization of happiness
4. cultural notions of ethics

Explanation:

• Question 11: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory, meaning it focuses on outcomes (maximizing overall happiness/utility). Individual autonomy is more of a deontological or liberal concern. Group privilege goes against the utilitarian principle of equal consideration (each counts as one). Personal self - interest is too narrow as utilitarianism is about the greatest good for the greatest number.
• Question 12: Jeremy Bentham, a key figure in utilitarianism, defined happiness in terms of pleasure (hedonistic utilitarianism). Reason is more of a Kantian (deontological) concept. Duty - keeping is also deontological. Excellence is a virtue - ethical concept.
• Question 13: Preference utilitarianism still struggles with incommensurability. Just because we can order preferences does not mean we can truly compare the "intensity" or "quality" of different people's feelings and perceptions in a non - arbitrary way for the utilitarian calculus.
• Question 14: Act utilitarianism evaluates each individual act based on its specific consequences. Past actions (and commitments) are more relevant to rule - utilitarianism or deontological theories. Altruism is a motive, not the focus of act - utilitarian evaluation. Rights are a deontological concept.
• Question 15: J.J.C. Smart is a proponent of act utilitarianism, which is about unconditional rational maximization of happiness (in each act). Common - sense notions of morality are too vague and not systematic. Almost - always - acting rules are more in line with rule - utilitarianism. Cultural notions of ethics are too relative for a universalist like Smart.

Answer:

1. Question 11: 2. Outcomes
2. Question 12: 1. Pleasure
3. Question 13: False
4. Question 14: 3. A current particular action and its specific consequences
5. Question 15: 3. Unconditional rational maximization of happiness