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Mill's Utilitarianism

            
             Imagine a society where the main focus is the maximum happiness of its people on a grand scale; in other words the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. In its basic form this is Jeremy Benthams" definition of utilitarianism. You cannot talk about utilitarianism without mentioning Bentham. He went even further to say that some good actions are better then other good actions. Realizing that this would be hard to prove he developed a formula that measures pleasure and pain. The conclusive definition of Benthams version on utilitarianism is that it focuses upon an action's relevance depending fully on the value of its consequences. This is called act-utilitarianism. While Bentham was credited to be the father of utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill was considered the heart and soul of it. Mill's version of utilitarianism focuses on rule-utilitarianism. In this paper I will discuss Mill's version of utilitarianism and what kinds of objections are raised against it. .
             John Stuart Mill was a student of Benthams and picked up where Bentham left off. He saw the flaws of act-utilitarianism and introduced his theory to overcome the weaknesses. The new theory was called rule-utilitarianism. Instead of looking at the consequences of a particular act Mill's version of utilitarianism focused on value of the consequences of following a particular rule. The rule, which produces the best overall consequences, is the one that should be followed. To understand rule-utilitarianism, a society must accept that certain rules must be followed. For instance, if stealing is wrong then a rule-utilitarian society would avoid this problem by adopting this rule even if by doing so there is a sacrifice to pleasure. This is true for lying or torturing little animals. Human beings prefer pleasure than pain; as a result, people desire to act in order to achieve the maximum happiness. Mill also saw that there is quality in every type of pleasure.


Essays Related to Mill's Utilitarianism

1. John Stuart Mills and Utilitarianism

According to John Stuart Mill, what does it mean to act rightly or be good? Mill states how people are inclined to act rather than how they should act. ... When a person takes his own interpretation of utilitarianism to increase the happiness of the greatest number of people and justifies an action that they make based on Mill's argument, is troublesome. ... Do you believe that utilitarianism? ... Do you believe that utilitarianism is a way of the present that disregards the outcome in the future as long as the majority is profiting? ...

  • Word Count: 500
  • Approx Pages: 2
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2. Definition of Utilitarianism

Definition of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is an ethical theory developed in the modern period by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-73) to promote fairness in British legislation during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when the interests of the upper classes tended to prevail and the sufferings of the lower classes were neglected. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that calls for putting benevolence into action. Mill interprets the term utilitarianism as signifying any moral theory (the terms ethical and moral are used synonymously by Bentham and Mill,) in which...

  • Word Count: 686
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

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  • Word Count: 1146
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Utilitarianism

Mill believes that the proper moral ethics is Utilitarianism. ... Mill's theory of utilitarianism can be disputed in many ways by many different people, all to which Mill refutes in his own essay Utilitarianism. ... Mill disputes this as being narrow-minded, clarifying that the pleasure principle which forms the foundation for utilitarianism, "what is right in conduct, is not the agent's own happiness, but that of all concerned". ... I believe that in theory Utilitarianism is a good idea. ... All in all although I see both good points and bad points in utilitarianism, Mill does not t...

  • Word Count: 1452
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5. Utilitarianism

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6. Stuart John Mills and Utilitarianism

According to Bredeson (2011), utilitarianism is a philosophical theory that was developed by Stuart John Mill. ... The other connection between terrorism and the utilitarianism theory lies in the fact that. ... The society as a whole just as John Mills have a similar view concerning happiness and pleasure. ... Stuart John Mills highlights that measuring the degree of happiness is complex than it's actually reflected in theory. ... In conclusion, from the literature reviewed it is apparent that the concept of terrorism is connected to Stuart John Mill's philosophical theory on utilita...

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7. Utilitarianism

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  • Word Count: 1732
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8. Summary, Chapter 3, J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism

One: Read Chapter 3, paragraphs 9, 10, and 11 of Utilitarianism. ... Mill contends herethat, for Utilitarianism, there is the "natural basis of sentiment- (U 164) necessary for any "moral- system to survive as culture progresses. ... Mill's theory will be naturally implemented, over time, through the process carried out by internal and external sanctions, and avoid yielding to the "dissolving force of analysis."" ... Mill contends herethat, for Utilitarianism, there is the "natural basis of sentiment- (U 164) necessary for any "moral- system to survive as culture progresses. ... Mill ...

  • Word Count: 681
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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