1. Utilitarianism: introduction

2. Starter: Extension Questions
What happened to Jeremy Bentham’s head?
For Christmas, would you prefer a Hedonic Calculus, or a Felicific Calculus?
Act versus Rule Utilitarianism: who takes which view?
What are the following topics referring to, and what do they have in common?
Quantifying Happiness;
Bad Pleasures;
Predictable v Actual Consequences;
Short-term v Long-term Consequences;
Local v Global Consequences;
the issue of Justice and Rights;
the matter of Special Obligations.

3. Quickfire round: Explain
Quantifying Happiness;
Act Utilitarianism
Bad Pleasures;
Rule Utilitarianism
Predictable v Actual Consequences;
Preference Utilitarianism
Short-term v Long-term Consequences;
The Felicific Calculus
Local v Global Consequences;
Hedonism
the issue of Justice and Rights;
the matter of Special Obligations.

4. Main Activity: Reading Mill
We’ll look at the extract in your handout.
Question-swapping activity will follow
Construction of good example of utilitarian reasoning

5. Homework
Outline and illustrate Bentham and Mill’s classical account of utilitarianism. (2-3 sides)