The document outlines the historical context of utilitarianism and explores its key aspects. It discusses Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, the main proponents of utilitarianism. Bentham argued that actions should aim to maximize happiness for the greatest number of people. He developed a "hedonic calculus" to quantify pleasure versus pain. Mill agreed but distinguished between higher and lower pleasures. The document also differentiates between act and rule utilitarianism, describing how they apply the principle of utility.

1. Utilitarianism Explored Aims To outline the historical and social context of utilitarianism. To begin to explore the intricacies of utilitarianism vis-à-vis its broader aim.

2. Recap “You ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people.” Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832) “The greatest happiness principle”

3. Utilitarianism Comes under the broader ethical theory of… Consequentialism Also referred to as a teleological theory which understands the rightness and wrongness of an action by looking at the consequences of the action. (Greek word “telos” means end.)

4. Jeremy Bentham John Stuart Mill Both were deemed to be democratic, progressive, empiricist and optimistic.

5. Jeremy Bentham Bentham can be called a hedonist. For Bentham, there is no difference between pleasure and happiness; both refer to a psychic state of satisfaction. Bentham argued that human beings are motivated by pleasure and, thus, a decrease of pain. To determine which actions lead to the most pleasure and the least pain, Bentham devised the ‘hedonic calculus’. This is a quantitative principle: duration, intensity, remoteness, certainty, purity, richness and extent.

6. J. S. Mill Mill agreed with Bentham in emphasising that a persons’ well being is of the utmost importance. Mill agreed with the utility principle but had an issue with the quantitative element. Mill developed a system of higher and lower pleasures. To pursue pleasures of the intellect were ‘higher’ than, say, the pursuits if pleasures of the body.