A Level AQA Philosophy- Moral Philosophy Practice Questions and Answers

Arete An 'excellence', or more specifically, a 'virtue' - a quality that aids the fulfilment of a thing's ergon (Aristotle). Utility The net balance of pleasure over pain. Hedonism The pursuit of pleasure. The good is pleasure. Consequentialism What makes an action right or wrong is the consequences it brings about. Utilitarianism is an example. The Principle of Utility The view that an act is right if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Equality Everybody is morally equal. Impartiality We should consider the interests of each person fairly in all situations. Sentience The capacity to feel pleasure and pain. Bentham's Quantitative Hedonism Only the total amount of utility counts. All pleasures are EQUALLY valuable. Mill's Qualitative Hedonism Higher pleasures of the mind have more value than lower pleasures. Act Utilitarianism Assesses each separate act according to whether it maximises pleasure over pain NOW. Rule Utilitarianism We should assess situations on the basis of whether the acts we are considering are compatible with moral rules which increase utility in the LONG RUN. Preference Utilitarianism Adopted by Peter Singer, argues that we should seek always the good we would rationally prefer rather than simply our selfish desires or pleasure/happiness.