Asked by Juan-Andres Mestre on May 03, 2024

verifed

Verified

One criticism of Bentham's quantitative model of the utility principle is that it could lead to results that seem deeply unjust. For example,

A) it could allow a sadistic dictator to get away with torturing his subjects, on the grounds that his pleasure is so great it outweighs their collective pain.
B) it oppresses strong, creative people with its slave morality.
C) it tells us that we always ought to act selfishly in all circumstances.
D) it requires us to put duty before pleasure.

Bentham's Quantitative Model

A philosophical model proposed by Jeremy Bentham, emphasizing the calculation of pleasure and pain to determine the moral rightness of actions based on their utility.

Utility Principle

A principle in ethics and economics that suggests the best action is the one that maximizes utility, often defined as maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering.

Sadistic Dictator

A ruler who derives pleasure from inflicting suffering on others, often exercising power in a cruel or brutal manner.

  • Analyze the philosophical arguments for and against utilitarianism and its implications for justice.
verifed

Verified Answer

ZK
Zybrea KnightMay 06, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
Bentham's model only considers the total amount of pleasure and pain, without taking into account the distribution or allocation of them. Therefore, in the scenario described, if the sadistic dictator derives a massive amount of pleasure from torturing his subjects, it would be considered morally justifiable under his model, regardless of how much pain is inflicted upon the population. This is a clear example of how the quantitative approach can lead to results that seem deeply unjust.