QUESTION #5

POL S 302 MIDTERM

Question 5: Write an essay about the place of happiness in Kant’s and Bentham’s moral and political theories. For each thinker focus on the standard that an individual who is facing a moral choice would use and the standard with which one can assess a political system.

Bentham

• ·         Bentham uses utility calculus to determine what is best for society.
• ·         In Bentham’s utility calculus, happiness is achieved when the greatest good for the greatest number of people is obtained. Bentham’s moral and political theories stems from his utility calculus.
• ·         Does not believe in universal standard.
• ·         Analytic Reconstitutive Method. Pick an experience and analyze it part by part; do what gives you pleasure.
• ·         All knowledge comes from experience
• ·         The role of government is to make its members happy.
• ·         Happiness is the standard of morality.

Kant

• ·         Similar to Rousseau; individual moral choice vs. categorical imperative
• ·         A system of law is important in a state. The state determines what is good for its people because it would benefit them.
• ·         The individual man would need to set aside himself and focus on the societal man.
• ·         Talk about the original contract and life under society and law.
• ·         Under the original contract is a minimal standard
• ·         Unlike the utility calculus, legislators should not make laws for themselves, but think of laws that will benefit society eve if it makes some people angry.