OCR A-level Religious Studies (H573) · Ethics · Utilitarianism
Mini-Lesson
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a teleological, consequentialist theory: the right action is the one that produces the best consequences — the greatest good for the greatest number. We compare Bentham (act) and Mill (rule).
Work through each screen, weigh the range of scholarly views, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you are ready.
Bentham
Bentham: the principle of utility
Jeremy Bentham was a hedonist: pleasure is the only intrinsic good and pain the only evil. His principle of utility says the right act is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
He is an act utilitarian: judge each individual act by how much pleasure over pain it produces.
Everyone counts equally — 'each to count for one, none for more than one'.
Quick check
The principle of utility
?What does Bentham principle of utility say makes an action right?
Hedonic calculus
The hedonic calculus
To weigh the pleasure of an act, Bentham gives the hedonic (felicific) calculus — seven factors:
Intensity — how strong is the pleasure?
Duration — how long does it last?
Certainty — how likely is it?
Propinquity — how soon (near) is it?
Fecundity — will it lead to more pleasure?
Purity — how free is it from pain?
Extent — how many people does it affect?
Quick check
The calculus
?The hedonic calculus is Bentham method for doing what?
Mill
Mill: higher and lower pleasures
John Stuart Mill refined the theory. Worried it was a doctrine 'fit for swine', he argued that pleasures differ in quality, not just quantity:
Higher pleasures (intellectual, aesthetic, moral) are superior to lower pleasures (bodily).
'It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.'
Mill leans toward rule utilitarianism: follow the rules that generally tend to produce the greatest happiness, protecting justice and rights.
Quick check
Quality of pleasure
?How does Mill differ from Bentham on pleasure?
Sort it
Bentham or Mill?
Tap an idea, then the thinker it belongs to.
📏 Bentham
🎭 Mill
Act, rule, preference
Act, rule and preference utilitarianism
Three forms to distinguish:
Act utilitarianism (Bentham): judge each act individually by its utility. Flexible, but can justify almost anything.
Rule utilitarianism (Mill): keep rules that generally maximise happiness. More stable, protects rights, but can become rigid.
Preference utilitarianism (Peter Singer): maximise the satisfaction of people preferences, not just pleasure — taking each person interests into account.
Evaluation
Strengths and criticisms
Strengths: democratic, impartial, focused on real-world welfare, and easy to grasp.
Criticisms:
Consequences are hard to measure and predict.
It can justify injustice — harming a minority for the majority (the 'tyranny of the majority').
It ignores intentions, promises and special relationships (e.g. to family).
Whose pleasure counts, and can pleasures really be added up like this?
Match it
Key terms
Tap a term, then its meaning.
Term
Means
Quick check
A key criticism
?Which is a standard criticism of utilitarianism?
Recap
The big ideas to take into the exam
Bentham: act utilitarian, hedonist; principle of utility; the hedonic calculus (7 factors)
Mill: higher and lower pleasures (quality matters); leans to rule utilitarianism