Teleology and utilitarianism
I can apply utilitarian ethics to scenarios as a way of demonstrating knowledge of teleological ethics.
Teleology and utilitarianism
I can apply utilitarian ethics to scenarios as a way of demonstrating knowledge of teleological ethics.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Teleological ethics focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions rather than the actions themselves.
- Utilitarianism aims to produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
- The good is equated with happiness and actions are considered right if they lead to more happiness than pain.
- Utilitarianism can be critcised, e.g., it is difficult to calculate how much happiness an action would produce.
Keywords
Teleogical ethics - ethical theories that focus on the outcomes or consequences of an action
Greatest good - the idea that actions should aim to produce the most happiness for the most people
Jeremy Bentham - an 18th-century philosopher and social reformer who developed utilitarianism
Utilitarianism - an ethical theory that focuses on achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Common misconception
Utilitarianism does not argue that any action is acceptable as long as it makes the majority happy.
Utilitarianism considers both the positive and the negative outcomes to determine which action produces the best overall consequences for the greatest number of people.
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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