In Defense of Utilitarianism, J.S. Mill In the excerpt from John Stuart Mill’s book, Utilitarianism, Mill defends the utilitarian theory against three different objections. The first, and strongest opposition to utilitarianism was the accusation that the emphasis on the pursuit of pleasure makes utilitarianism “a doctrine worthy of swine.” This was my favorite argument because Mill defended it so well stating that there are varying degrees of pleasure. He refers to them as “high” and “low” pleasures, which I do agree with.
Mills explains Utilitarianism as achieving life’s goals, it is what everyone wants or seek for. He further explains that utilitarianism promotes the quality of life. Furthermore, utilitarianism is connected to happiness, because we all seek to achieve different goals in life, and those goals are what makes up happy. We all want certain things in life, or want to achieve certain things. Utilitarianism promotes happiness, happiness exclude pain, suffering, struggles, stress, and anything that makes one ‘unhappy’ or ‘sad’.
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on outcomes and consequences. When one considers the theory of utilitarianism, it must be understood that the pleasure is a fundamental moral good and the aim is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. So, when a human is going through the decision making process it is of the utmost importance to look forward at the consequences of the decision and determine if the decision will maximize pleasure and minimize pain. John Stuart Mill, a nineteenth century philosopher focused on the theory of utilitarianism or the Greatest Happiness Principle and claimed that the maximization of happiness for the greatest quantity of people is the ultimate goal. One issue that we face in modern day America that
Utilitarianism focuses on that the end goal of human action is to be happy which is called the greatest happiness principle which is when an action is considered right if it promotes the most happiness and the least pain. According to John Stuart Mill, “By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure”(96). It’s the view that happiness is in pleasures. Humans contain higher pleasures which are feelings, intellect, and success but also contains lower pleasures like eating, sex, etc. “The higher pleasures are superior to the lower ones.
Lastly, the concerns are resolved and the usefulness of utilitarianism in this situation is again demonstrated. Utilitarianism shows which individual to benefit in the situation by referring back to the earlier happiness
This paper is written because abortion: kills children, because people do not want to be responsible for their own actions, and the effects it has on the mothers themselves. Using the terms defined for consequentialism stated by John Stuart Mill in his speech “Utilitarianism.” By using the Abortion kills children before they are born because it is something that is already living inside of the mother. People are not taking responsibility for their actions and, in the long run, it will catch up to them. It has an effect on the mother's psychologically by making them depressed about the what had happened.
“We ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people” (Barbara, Page 32). To explain this principle more in depth you would look at the greatest number of people and decide what would produce the most happiness throughout everyone. Stated in the book Ethics by Mackinnon “utilitarianism must draw its evidence from experience.” Which Mill also believes that the only way to evaluate if something is morally right is to find reasons to support it. Therefore, Mill draws his evidence from experience, which leads him to his reasoning, he stats in Mackinnon “just as the only way in which we know that something is visible is its being seen, and the only way we can show that something is audible is if it can be herd, so also the only proof that we have that something is desirable is its being desired.
In Utilitarianism, Mill provides many defenses for criticisms of utilitarian ideals and expands on the theory with his own ideas. While discussing morals and actions that cause them, Mill glances past a discussion that I think is important. On page 756, Mill states that the motives behind actions are not important in determining what is morally right, only the action itself does. I believe that the motives are an important part in determining morality.
According to Mill, humanly is capable of having higher pleasures as opposed to animals. These gratifications are more attractive and important than others (John, Utilitarian, 1861). Mill suggested criterion to assists in determining the happiness which is quantitative and precious. He suggested that if there might be an individual or some individuals with all or at least some pleasure and do have an experience when it come to making decision
As a utilitarian, Mill relies heavily upon the overall happiness and wellbeing of the community, but there are other aspects of utilitarianism, such as liberty, which in a sense very closely goes hand in hand with happiness itself. To obtain happiness we must be free of restrictions which may limit our pursuit of the overall end goal. In Mill’s case, he stresses the importance of liberty, and uses freedom of speech as an example. Because we as individuals, and community members, require a sense of self to set ourselves apart from one another. He finds, that no matter the opinion, whether outlandish or reasonable, it has the possibility of becoming true, and without liberty we would not be able to come to this sort of conclusion because our rights would be restricted from us.
Most of hi John Stuart Mill’s work and theories reflect his naturalist, and Unitarian ideology on this knowledge being based off experience. To summarize utilitarianism it is an ethical theory that place the decision of right and wrong on the outcome of the action. They why how actions are justified that they are moral or not are based on the comparison those two things and takes into account the interest of not only your own but also those around you. Mills would say as a utilitarian that the wrongness or rightness of an action is justified by the end result; because, as utilitarian ethics is guided by the total greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people. What is so fascinating about utilitarianism is that it gives an ignorant blunder
Save the Poor or Be Free to Make Your Own Choices Utility is defined as an action that benefits the majority of society. Utilitarian John Stuart Mill, is someone who I have observed to determine this decision. Liberty is different in that it incorporates individual’s rights by allowing for people to do as they please and creating minimal state interference. The issue needs to be fixed on whether the government should intervene with a utilitarian perspective and help the poor. This would cause the lumber company to lose their individual freedoms.
Mill defines Utilitarianism in chapter two as a theory based on the principle that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse
What Mill means by utilitarianism is giving the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. According to Sandel's lecture Mill's utilitarianism uses consequentialist reasoning. Categorical means absolute for example, if someone asks you if you are hungry a you say,"no",
John Stuart Mill, at the very beginning of chapter 2 entitled “what is utilitarianism”. starts off by explaining to the readers what utility is, Utility is defined as pleasure itself, and the absence of pain. This leads us to another name for utility which is the greatest happiness principle. Mill claims that “actions are right in proportions as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” “By Happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain, by happiness, pain and the privation of pleasure”.
