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utilitarianism Questions and Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
What is the summum bonum?
Ans: Mill uses it to mean the foundation/end of morality.
In Latin it literally means the greatest good.
Mill held which of the following to be the larger meaning of the word 'proof?'
Ans: When the intellect is able to give or withhold assent.
What is the difference between an analytic and a synthetic statement?
Ans: Analytic statement is true a priori, whereas the synthetic statement is true a
posteriori.
Analytic statement is true by definition, whereas the synthetic statement is true by
observation and experience.
Which of the following does Mill believe would be the result of not having a first
principle for ethics?
Ans: all
Make ethics merely into a consecration of men's sentiments of right and wrong.
Make particular sentiments of right and wrong, to precede first principles.
Make first principles to be constrained by the prior sentiments of right and wrong.
Make the general theory a derivative of particular sentiments of right and wrong.
Why does Mill argue that questions of ultimate ends not amenable to direct proof?
Ans: all
Because if ultimate ends where able to be a means to some other ultimate ends, then
you would have to prove that ultimate ends was a means to some other ultimate
ends, ad infinitum.
Because all things good must be proved to be good by showing that they are a means
to something admitted to be good without proof.
Because an ultimate end, by definition, means that it is not a means to another end
but is an end in itself.
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Mill argues that because ultimate ends and the criteria of morality are submitted to
the cognizance of the rational faculty, they do not become blind impulses or
arbitrary choices.
t or f
Ans: t
Mill held that In science, first principles can do their job, equally well, whether they
are understood or not.
t or f
Ans: t
For Mill, how is ethics different from science?
Ans: In science the particular truths precede the general theory whereas in ethics
the general theory precedes the particular truths.
Mill argues that following are true concerning science.
Ans: all
From metaphysical analysis comes the first principles--particular truths.
From the first principles we derive the general theory.
Elementary scientific notions are submitted to metaphysical analysis.
General theory--the last thing to be discovered--tells us what we are pursuing.
What is Mill's two-step approach for rationally 'proving' the utilitarian formula?
Ans: First is to illustrate what the doctrine is and what it is not, secondly, is to
analyze it as a philosophical theory.
For Mill what are the only things desirable as ends?
Ans: Pleasure and the freedom of pain, i.e., they are desired either for pleasure
inherent in them or as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of
pain.
For Mill, why are some pleasure superior over others?
Ans: all
Because of circumstantial reasons--if the pleasures offer greater permanency, safety,
uncostliness, etc., i.e., have the best consequences, then they are the better ones.
Because of intrinsic value--some kinds of pleasures are by their nature more
desirable and more valuable than others.
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For Mill, a being of higher faculties:
Ans: all
Is capable of more suffering.
Requires more to make him/her happy.
Would not wish to sink into a lower grade of existence
Why would few human creatures consent to be changed into any of the lower animals
for a promise of the fullest allowance of the beast's pleasures or for the most
complete satisfaction of all the desires of the fool?
Ans: Because of the sense of dignity which is basically in proportion to the higher
faculties.
Can the preference for qualitative happiness over quantitative happiness end up
being a sacrifice of happiness?
Ans: No, because to think otherwise is to confuse the distinctions between
contentment/satisfaction and happiness.
How is it that Mill can say "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig
satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied"?
Ans: all
Because Socrates can experience quantitative and qualitative pleasures whereas the
pig or the fool can only experience quantitative pleasures.
Because contentment/satisfaction is a different notion than happiness.
Because Socrates is in fact qualitatively happier than the pig or the fool.
Because Socrates has higher faculties than a pig or a fool and therefore more dignity.
The following is the definition of Mill's greatest happiness principle. "Actions are
right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to
produce the reverse of happiness. Happiness is intended pleasure and absence of
pain. Unhappiness is pain and the privation of pleasure."
t or f
Ans: t
Is Mill's utilitarianism opposed to pleasure or does utility deal only with pleasure?
Ans: Utility is not opposed to pleasure and utility does not deal solely with pleasure
as utility is also concerned with the exemption from pain.
Why did some criticize Mill's theory as mean and groveling and how does Mill
respond?
utilitarianism Questions and Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
What is the summum bonum?
Ans: Mill uses it to mean the foundation/end of morality.
In Latin it literally means the greatest good.
Mill held which of the following to be the larger meaning of the word 'proof?'
Ans: When the intellect is able to give or withhold assent.
What is the difference between an analytic and a synthetic statement?
Ans: Analytic statement is true a priori, whereas the synthetic statement is true a
posteriori.
Analytic statement is true by definition, whereas the synthetic statement is true by
observation and experience.
Which of the following does Mill believe would be the result of not having a first
principle for ethics?
Ans: all
Make ethics merely into a consecration of men's sentiments of right and wrong.
Make particular sentiments of right and wrong, to precede first principles.
Make first principles to be constrained by the prior sentiments of right and wrong.
Make the general theory a derivative of particular sentiments of right and wrong.
Why does Mill argue that questions of ultimate ends not amenable to direct proof?
Ans: all
Because if ultimate ends where able to be a means to some other ultimate ends, then
you would have to prove that ultimate ends was a means to some other ultimate
ends, ad infinitum.
Because all things good must be proved to be good by showing that they are a means
to something admitted to be good without proof.
Because an ultimate end, by definition, means that it is not a means to another end
but is an end in itself.
,2 Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
Mill argues that because ultimate ends and the criteria of morality are submitted to
the cognizance of the rational faculty, they do not become blind impulses or
arbitrary choices.
t or f
Ans: t
Mill held that In science, first principles can do their job, equally well, whether they
are understood or not.
t or f
Ans: t
For Mill, how is ethics different from science?
Ans: In science the particular truths precede the general theory whereas in ethics
the general theory precedes the particular truths.
Mill argues that following are true concerning science.
Ans: all
From metaphysical analysis comes the first principles--particular truths.
From the first principles we derive the general theory.
Elementary scientific notions are submitted to metaphysical analysis.
General theory--the last thing to be discovered--tells us what we are pursuing.
What is Mill's two-step approach for rationally 'proving' the utilitarian formula?
Ans: First is to illustrate what the doctrine is and what it is not, secondly, is to
analyze it as a philosophical theory.
For Mill what are the only things desirable as ends?
Ans: Pleasure and the freedom of pain, i.e., they are desired either for pleasure
inherent in them or as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of
pain.
For Mill, why are some pleasure superior over others?
Ans: all
Because of circumstantial reasons--if the pleasures offer greater permanency, safety,
uncostliness, etc., i.e., have the best consequences, then they are the better ones.
Because of intrinsic value--some kinds of pleasures are by their nature more
desirable and more valuable than others.
, 3 Inquire through: | Professional | Confidential Support
For Mill, a being of higher faculties:
Ans: all
Is capable of more suffering.
Requires more to make him/her happy.
Would not wish to sink into a lower grade of existence
Why would few human creatures consent to be changed into any of the lower animals
for a promise of the fullest allowance of the beast's pleasures or for the most
complete satisfaction of all the desires of the fool?
Ans: Because of the sense of dignity which is basically in proportion to the higher
faculties.
Can the preference for qualitative happiness over quantitative happiness end up
being a sacrifice of happiness?
Ans: No, because to think otherwise is to confuse the distinctions between
contentment/satisfaction and happiness.
How is it that Mill can say "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig
satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied"?
Ans: all
Because Socrates can experience quantitative and qualitative pleasures whereas the
pig or the fool can only experience quantitative pleasures.
Because contentment/satisfaction is a different notion than happiness.
Because Socrates is in fact qualitatively happier than the pig or the fool.
Because Socrates has higher faculties than a pig or a fool and therefore more dignity.
The following is the definition of Mill's greatest happiness principle. "Actions are
right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to
produce the reverse of happiness. Happiness is intended pleasure and absence of
pain. Unhappiness is pain and the privation of pleasure."
t or f
Ans: t
Is Mill's utilitarianism opposed to pleasure or does utility deal only with pleasure?
Ans: Utility is not opposed to pleasure and utility does not deal solely with pleasure
as utility is also concerned with the exemption from pain.
Why did some criticize Mill's theory as mean and groveling and how does Mill
respond?
