phil discussion 3 (1)

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The University of Oklahoma *

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1273

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Philosophy

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Jan 9, 2024

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pdf

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Uploaded by ChancellorValor12257

Discussion Bentham Pleasure: Anything that gives you pleasure Consequences good= Morally right Consequences bad= Morally wrong - The greatest good for the greatest number - Quantity Mill pleasure: Higher and lower pleasures - Maximize the good= Pleasure - Mill is about both quality and quantity - Higher Pleasures: Literature, chess, watching classic movies - Lower Pleasures: Football games, board games (sorry, trouble)-Things that don’t take much thought Main Difference: Mill is about quality and quantity, and Bentham is about quantity. 1. Do something that already gives you a lot of pleasure (like going to an OU football game or taking a hike out in nature); 2. Do something that you sort of like, but that you are thinking about cultivating more of a taste for (like reading great literature or watching classic movies); 3. Do something that seems highly desirable, but more because it is appropriate rather than pleasurable, per se (like visiting an elderly relative or starting on your homework). Question 1: What would Bentham say was the best option (assuming your actions are not impacting anyone else, and so assuming that whatever good is created just goes to you ) ? Be sure to explain your answer. Option One, which involves engaging in activities I already find highly pleasurable, like attending an OU football game or going on a nature hike, aligns well with Bentham's philosophy. These activities inherently maximize my personal happiness. Furthermore, as they often lead to positive outcomes such as reduced stress and enhanced well-being, they adhere to Bentham's idea that pleasure is valuable when it results in a favorable consequence. In this context, Option One emerges as the preferable choice within the utilitarian framework, emphasizing personal well-being and happiness when no harm is caused to others. In a scenario where my actions have no impact on anyone else, Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy would guide me to select the option that maximizes my personal happiness and pleasure. Bentham's core principle, "the greatest happiness for the greatest number," pertains to individual happiness when external consequences are absent.

Question 3: What would Mill say was the best option (assuming your actions are not impacting anyone else, and so assuming that whatever good is created just goes to you ) ? Be sure to explain your answer. Mill's utilitarian philosophy emphasizes the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, with a preference for those that contribute to profound and lasting happiness. Option Two, which involves cultivating a taste for activities like reading great literature or watching classic movies, aligns perfectly with Mill's values. Even though one might only 'sort of like' these activities initially, Mill would argue that by choosing this option, individuals prioritize personal growth and the pursuit of elevated forms of pleasure. Mill's recognition of the transformative power of higher pleasures underscores that this choice not only benefits the individual but also contributes to the greater good, enhancing overall well-being for both the individual and society. This emphasis on cultivating tastes for higher pleasures reﬂects Mill's view that such pursuits lead to a richer and more fulfilling life Question 3: In the previous questions, we had you assume that your actions are not impacting anyone else, so you were judging in terms of getting something good for yourself. Let's eliminate that assumption . Suppose your actions can influence someone else - your hike might influence someone else's hike (positively or negatively), your attending the game might help/hurt others; cultivating your tastes might take away from family time or mean that you become a new friend to someone else. Does allowing that your actions might impact others change your previous responses? Yes, allowing for the possibility that my actions can inﬂuence others does change the considerations in my previous responses, especially when applying utilitarian principles. Question One: Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy primarily emphasizes maximizing personal happiness and pleasure. In this context, if my actions, such as attending an OU football game or going on a nature hike, impact others positively by enhancing their experiences, then Bentham's utilitarian calculus would still primarily focus on the pleasure and happiness generated for all individuals involved. If the net effect is positive and the pleasure outweighs any potential displeasure caused to others, then Option One aligns with Bentham's utilitarian principles. Question two: Mill's perspective, which values higher intellectual and moral pleasures, the impact on others becomes crucial. If cultivating a taste for activities like reading

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