John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism 2.0
John Stuart Mill, a 19th-Century British philosopher, revised utilitarianism to address objections, emphasizing the Greatest Happiness Principle where actions are right if they promote happiness for all affected parties equally. Mill argued for higher pleasures over mere animalistic satisfaction, countering objections against hedonistic views.
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Presentation Transcript
John Stuart Mill 19th-Century British philosopher Father James Mill was friends with Bentham Understands objections to Benthamism; tries to remake utilitarianism so as to avoid those objections
John Stuart Mill Greatest happiness principle Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
John Stuart Mill Greatest happiness principle Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. The happiness of all affected parties counts equally.
John Stuart Mill Greatest happiness principle Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. The happiness of all affected parties counts equally. Happiness: Pleasure and the absence of pain.
John Stuart Mill Greatest happiness principle Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. The happiness of all affected parties counts equally. Happiness: Pleasure and the absence of pain. But: non-hedonistic conception of pleasure
John Stuart Mill Objection 1: If pleasure is the highest good, we are no better than swine.
John Stuart Mill Objection 1: If pleasure is the highest good, we are no better than swine. Reply: We are capable of higher pleasures than other animals. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. Pleasures associated with the exercise and development of the higher faculties
John Stuart Mill Objection 1: If pleasure is the highest good, we are no better than swine. Reply: We are capable of higher pleasures than other animals. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. Pleasures associated with the exercise and development of the higher faculties Objection 2: We can live without happiness.
John Stuart Mill Objection 1: If pleasure is the highest good, we are no better than swine. Reply: We are capable of higher pleasures than other animals. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. Pleasures associated with the exercise and development of the higher faculties Objection 2: We can live without happiness. Reply: Some people (martyrs) do without happiness, but this is noble only when it results in greater happiness for others.
John Stuart Mill Consequentialism Whether an action is morally right depends solely on the consequences of the action.
John Stuart Mill Consequentialism Whether an action is morally right depends solely on the consequences of the action. The motives of the agent are relevant to assessing the moral worth of the agent, but not the morality of the action. He who saves a fellow creature from drowning does what is morally right, whether his motive be duty or the hope of being paid for his trouble.
John Stuart Mill Proof of the principle of utility Questions of ultimate ends are incapable of demonstrative proof. But considerations may be given in their favor.
John Stuart Mill Proof of the principle of utility Questions of ultimate ends are incapable of demonstrative proof. But considerations may be given in their favor. Mill's argument Questions about ends are questions about what is desirable. The only proof that something is desirable is that it is desired. The only thing people desire for its own sake is happiness. Therefore, happiness is the only thing that is desirable for its own sake.
John Stuart Mill Justice and utilitarianism Imperfect duties: Duties in which the particular occasion of performing is left to our choice. Example: Charity Perfect duties: Duties in virtue of which a correlative right resides in some person or persons. Example: Property
John Stuart Mill Justice and utilitarianism Imperfect duties: Duties in which the particular occasion of performing is left to our choice. Example: Charity Perfect duties: Duties in virtue of which a correlative right resides in some person or persons. Example: Property Justice corresponds to our perfect duties. The content of our perfect duties is fixed by the principle of utility.
John Stuart Mill Act-Utilitarian Rule-Utilitarian
John Stuart Mill Act-Utilitarian Rule-Utilitarian Ex: principle of liberty
John Stuart Mill So: while Bentham and Mill ae both utilitarians, two key differences 1. for Mill, qualitative as well as quantitative differences between pleasures 2. rule-utilitarianism for perfect duties
