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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Utilitarianism is an egoistic moral theory.
a. True
b. False
2. In his Utilitarianism Mill answers those who say that his theory is a crass pleasure theory, fit only for beasts, by
suggesting ways that humans make qualitative (and not just quantitative) distinctions between types of pleasure.
a. True
b. False
3. According to act utilitarianism, if it produces more net utility (or “happiness”) to give money to famine relief, even
though I had promised to payback a friend with that money, then I ought to give the money to the relief fund.
a. True
b. False
4. According to Bentham, some pleasures may be more valuable than others but only in so far as they are of greater
intensity or duration.
a. True
b. False
5. In the reading from Utilitarianism Mill writes that we have learned by experience that murder and theft are wrong
because they are generally injurious to human happiness.
a. True
b. False
6. Utilitarianism says that utility is identical to pleasure.
a. True
b. False
7. The reason that Mill believes pleasure is the only intrinsic good is because he believes it is the only thing that everyone
desires for its own sake.
a. True
b. False
8. According to Mill, the only evidence we have that something is desirable in itself (as an end) is that people do, in fact,
desire it.
a. True
b. False
9. The following is an example of the reasoning of a rule utilitarian: “If the practice of lying is bad, then one ought not to
lie now, even if in this case to lie would actually bring about better consequences.”
a. True
b. False
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10. Both Bentham and Mill hold that some pleasures are better in kind than others.
a. True
b. False
11. Utilitarianism is a relativistic moral theory, for it recognizes that what is good in some circumstances is not always
good in others.
a. True
b. False
12. According to utilitarian moral theory, happiness is an instrumental good.
a. True
b. False
13. In his work, Utilitarianism, Mill’s test or basis for distinguishing higher from lower pleasures is the preference of
those who have experience of both.
a. True
b. False
14. According to utilitarianism, an act that makes some people happy and others unhappy can never be morally right.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
15. According to utilitarianism which of the following is useful for evaluating the morality of an action?
a. People’s intentions
b. The nature of the act
c. The process of accomplishing the result
d. The result of the action
16. Which of the following is not included in calculating the amount of happiness?
a. Cost
b. Intensity
c. Likelihood
d. Duration
17. Which of the following was not one of the founders of utilitarianism?
a. James Mill
b. Jeremy Bentham
c. John Stuart Mill
d. Rene Descartes
18. Which of the following is not necessary to act morally according to utilitarianism?
a. To consider all the variables involved in an action.
b. To act as the majority wishes.
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c. To consider all people to be of equal value.
d. To produce a result that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
19. Rule Utilitarianism asks that we consider the consequences of each act
a. Separately.
b. According to a clear set of rules.
c. As a general practice.
d. On the greatest number.
20. According to utilitarianism which of the following is an intrinsic good?
a. Love
b. Justice
c. Pleasure
d. Power
21. The trolley problem is used to illustrate which of the following?
a. The complexity of calculating morality using a cost-benefit analysis.
b. The difficulty involved in making utilitarian decisions.
c. The morality of public vs. private transportation.
d. The basis of rule utilitarianism.
Indicate one or more answer choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
22. During which centuries did Bentham and Mill publish their utilitarian theories?
a. The 1600s and 1700s (A.C.E.).
b. The 1700s and 1800s (A.C.E.).
c. The 1800s and 1900s (A.C.E.).
d. The 1900s and 2000s (A.C.E.).
Label as the better choice on utilitarian calculations, A or B, using a scale of –10 (very painful) to +10 (very pleasurable)
for degrees of pleasure or happiness.
23. A will bring 5 people each 8 days of pleasure and 3 people each 2 days of pain,
B will bring 8 people each 3 days of pleasure and 1 person 3 days of pain.
24. A makes 10 people very happy and 2 people very unhappy,
B makes 8 people moderately happy and 1 person mildly unhappy.
Of which kind of reasoning, Act (A) or Rule (R) Utilitarianism, are the following examples?
25. We ought to observe copyright rules because if we did not then no one’s intellectual property would be safe and this
would be a very bad outcome.
26. If everyone cut in that line, then there would be chaos and that would be bad, so I ought not cut in the line but go to
the end.
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Label as the better choice on utilitarian calculations, A or B, using a scale of –10 (very painful) to +10 (very pleasurable)
for degrees of pleasure or happiness.
27. A makes 5 people happy and no one unhappy,
B makes 9 people happy and me unhappy.
Of which kind of reasoning, Act (A) or Rule (R) Utilitarianism, are the following examples?
28. I ought to get more sleep because if I don’t I will be no good to myself or others.
29. What is the significance of Mills’ distinction between the pleasure of a “pig satisfied,” in contrast to “Socrates
satisfied?” What does this distinction add to Bentham’s version of utilitarianism?
30. Explain the difference between an instrumental good and an intrinsic good. Why does utilitarianism treat happiness as
an intrinsic good?
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Answer Key
1. False
2. True
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