1. How does Bentham define the principle of utility (Chapter One)? Be sure to read footnotes 1 and 2 to help you understand what he means. Write out the principle as given in section 2. What does he mean by the words "principle" (footnote 2) and "utility" ?

2. Define Bentham's 7 circumstances or elements of the value of pleasure and pain used to calculate utility? How would you apply these in calculating the utility of studying Friday night versus attending a movie?

3. What would Bentham and Mill each say about Aristotle's thesis that some pleasures are intrinsically worth more than others (for example, the pleasure of contemplation is a higher pleasure than that of eating)? With whom do you agree and why?

4. What is Mill's utility or greatest happiness principle? How is Mill's greatest happiness principle related to his description of the Summum Bonum?

5. Why is utilitarianism called a teleological approach to ethics? Why do Bentham and Mill judge the morality of actions by consequences rather than motives? Give examples that support their view and also possible counter-examples.

6. List the objections to happiness as the highest good and Mill's responses. What are other possible objections to utilitarianism and Mill's responses?

7. What is the difference between act and rule utilitarianism? Give examples.

8. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative utilitarianism?

9. Evaluate utilitarianism as a system of ethics. What is to be said in its favor? Describe 5 classic criticisms of utilitarianism, including (a) calculating or quantifying happiness or utility, (b) quantity versus quality of pleasure, (c) the importance of motives versus consequences, (d) happiness as the end, (e) proof of the principle of utility, and (f) distributive justice. How would a utilitarian have responded to each of these?

10. Be able to apply a utilitarian analysis to hypothetical cases. For example, CASE A: If Tom, an otherwise robust accident victim, lies near death, should his heart, liver, and kidneys be removed before he is brain-dead to save the lives of three other people? These others very likely would die before Tom is pronounced dead and the organs can be removed and flown to their hospitals. CASE B: You are broke, but have a job interview tomorrow. Should you shoplift a pair of pantyhose from K-mart in order to be properly dressed? How would a quantitative act utilitarian analyze each case? A quantitative rule utilitarian? A qualitative act utilitarian? A qualitative rule utilitarian?