Preview

Comparing Marx, Mill's Views On Social And Political Conditions

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1009 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing Marx, Mill's Views On Social And Political Conditions
In the present social and political conditions, theorists like Marx, Mills and Nietzsche have presented different understanding on individuals and conformity. All three theorists have offered varied responses regarding the rules we conform to today that are outdated and have lost meaning. For example, same sex marriage laws which are illegal in some developing countries can be viewed as meaningless. Mills developed his theories on these kind of laws. At the time the laws were set, they had justified meaning to the particular society then because the authority was strong but now they lost their meaning because the authority is weak (Edel, 1997). People will always comply with conventional demands of the society to actually fit in organised …show more content…
According to Mills, this way of conformity limits our individuality. He suggests that everyone should follow the rules of Utilitarianism that derive intellectual happiness. This is because they maximise and increase everyone's pleasure and intellectual needs and are useful for survival. Mills claims that intellectual pleasures are better in nature and he advocated for women rights to vote in society, freedom of expression and the right to divorce. He thought everyone should have access to these intellectual pleasures in order for everyone to exercise their political beliefs and many are less controversial. Mills claims that the old rules which didn't make sense were based on pleasure (Mill, On Liberty, Chapter 4). These rules are animalist and are just based on power. Some pleasures are valuable than others and can be determined by individuals who are "equally capable of appreciating and enjoying both" (Mill, On Liberty, chapter 4). For instance, learning is a unique superior pleasure that the society has conformed to that brings long lasting effects for everyone. This is because it connects with individual's stored pleasure in the memory, diversifying, multiplying and re-creates new ideas that outer senses cannot give. The individual is taking steps towards development of individuality. It can be justified that Mills was a true classical liberal thinker. He advocates for civil liberties under the law which emphasis on economic

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    It may seem like there are a lot freedoms to be had within choice making processes, but in reality there is very little. The heavy influence of society, family, and friends has made sure that any true, self-made decisions are impossible to be had. The ideals of the environment subconsciously impact the human being as they rely heavily on social acceptance. The need for acceptance makes them susceptible to pick paths that would appease those around them rather than satisfying their own desires. It is uncommon for someone to stray down a path that someone else would dislike. It only gets worse when the fight for limited power arises because then there is a whole new spectrum of things to take into consideration when trying to advance your position within social ranks. Especially when you look at society from Mills’ perspective. The triangle of power influences the populous because there’s no means of escape from its…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    To summarize this Mill’s chapter two about what utilitarianism is, basically meaning that individuals would find some kind of pleasure that are more desirable and more valuable to themselves are inherently good. Utilitarianism is pleasurable when the actions are good; when the actions are bad the pleasure decreases. To Mill he compares human pleasures are as equal as animalistic pleasures. It depends on what kind of pleasure people are seeking. For this purpose, Mill mentioned that people would have to look within quality of the pleasure people are seeking as well as quantity.…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Mill's perspective, oppression of the dominant part is more regrettable than oppression of government in light of the fact that it is not constrained to a political capacity. The predominant feelings inside of society will be the premise of all tenets of behavior inside of society. In this manner there can be no protection in law against the oppression of the larger part. The greater part assessment may not be the right supposition. The main avocation for a man's inclination is the individual’s inclination itself whenever a specific good conviction is the situation. Individuals will adjust themselves either for or against this issue. To analyze the examination of past governments, Mill recommends a solitary standard for which a man's freedom may be limited and that the main reason for which authority can be legitimately practiced over any individual from an civilized group, without wanting to, will be to prevent harms to others. Consequently, when it is not helpful, it may be…

    • 1470 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In Chapter 2, What Utilitarianism is, Mill presents the aforesaid definition of Utilitarianism as the criterion of an action to be right or wrong. We have seen that Utilitarianism puts great emphasis on happiness. »By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.«3 The fact that pleasure is the only good for Mill makes his Utilitarianism a form of Hedonism which is most associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus who claims that »Pleasure is our first and kindred good.«4 The difference to Epicurus' Hedonism, however, is…

    • 1512 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ethics Kant vs Mill

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism relates moral actions to those that result in the greatest happiness. This explains Mill’s theory on morality. When happiness is reached, there is pleasure and the absence of pain. Pleasure results from the actions higher in utility. Mill believes there’s a difference between higher and lower qualities of pleasure verses quantity of them. If a pleasure were high, a person would choose it over another pleasure that may come with suffering. Saying this he means a person will choose the higher good. He also speaks about the confusion of happiness with satisfaction. The only way to judge a pleasure is to fully understand the quality of pleasure.…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mills Chapter 2 Summary

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mills’s Chapter 2 titled, Determination and Consciousness in Marx showcases the varying ways to which an individual or society defines themselves through the material and non tangible things in life. His literary piece, and more so, this chapter focuses on how people from different societies are classified or categorized based on the level or amount of wealth they own or attain through their attempt towards upward social mobility. For instance, this determined level of consciousness in the Marxist theory of class in which Mills’s try to convey is a type of awakening or enlightenment in which individuals cannot part or dissociate from. This chapter also displays the tensions or tribulations that co exist in altering societies that have been…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Humanity’s attempts to study the state of society have stretched back throughout the ages. From forefathers such as Socrates or Aristophanes to the great enlightenment philosophers of Locke or Voltaire, all have grappled with the questions of how humanity best functions as a collective. John Stuart Mill, hailed as a paradigmatic liberal political philosopher, continues this tradition of thought in his work On Liberty published in 1859. Mill’s major argument made is that the individual is sovereign in their actions insofar as they do not impeach upon the rights of others. His justifications centre strongly on the principles of utilitarianism, providing a model he believes to offer the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Through specific analysis it can be seen that he optimizes societal benefit by placing import on individuality but conversely justifying exactly when governance and restraint need to be exercised. Overall, his conclusions are an attempt to unify two competing social factors, individual liberty against circumstances in which power can be exerted over another, articulated in what has become known as the ‘harm principle’.…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill’s notion of “higher pleasures” addresses the second objection to utilitarianism - that it reduces all values to a single scale (Sandel, 2009, p. 52). In the book it was mentioned that Mill tries to show utilitarians that they can distinguish higher pleasures from lower ones. Mill talks about how the higher pleasures are those that produce stronger and longer pleasures (Sandel, 2009, p. 52). It is interesting that Bentham doesn’t recognize qualitative distinction between pleasures, as for him pleasure is pleasure and pain is pain. The main focus for Bentham is that he is interested in the intensity and duration of the pleasure or pain (Sandel, 2009, p. 52).The difference between Bentham and Mill is that Bentham sees all pleasures as equal, while Mill believes you can differentiate between higher pleasures from lower ones by experiencing it (Sandel, 2009, p. 51-52). Mill’s notions was successful in improving Bentham’s utilitarianism because you can experience both the higher and lower pleasures and then determine the desirable one (Sandel, 2009, p. 54). As mentioned in the book Mills tried to save utilitarianism by recasting it as a more humane way. Also morality plays a major role because Mill was concerned about the humanitarian’s views such as individual rights and higher/lower…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marx and Mills

    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages

    John Stuart Mill suggests that a person's ethical decision-making process should be based solely upon the amount of happiness that the person can receive. Although Mill fully justifies himself, his approach lacks certain criteria for which happiness can be considered. Happiness should be judged, not only by pleasure, but by pain as well. This paper will examine Mill's position on happiness, and the reasoning behind it. Showing where there are agreements and where there are disagreements will critique the theory of Utilitarianism. By showing the problems that the theory have will reveal what should make up ethical decision-making. John Stuart Mill supports and explains his reasoning in his book, Utilitarianism. Mill illustrates the guidelines of his theory. Mill defines utilitarianism as the quest for happiness. His main point is that one should guide his or her judgements by what will give pleasure. Mill believes that a person should always seek to gain pleasure and reject pain. Utilitarianism also states that the actions of a person should be based upon the "greatest happiness principle". This principle states that ethical actions command the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Mill further explores the need for pleasure by noting "a being of higher faculties requires more to make him happy." . He acknowledges that some pleasures are more alluring than others are. He adds to this by making known that when placing value in things to calculate pleasure, not only quantity important but quality as well. Mill's criteria for happiness is easily understood, some statements that he gives are questionable. John Stuart Mill plainly laid out what he believes that the basis for ethical decision-making. First, the pursuit of pleasure is directly related to happiness. This idea can be easily accepted. It is natural for a person to focus his goals on things that will bring him pleasure. It would be absurd if someone's goal in life was to be poor and…

    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John Stuart Mill was a Utilitarian, believing that all ethical questions should be decided by applying the Principle of Utility. This principle states that the morally correct action in any situation is that which will increase happiness for the greatest number of people.…

    • 2570 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Response to Mill’s “Principle of Utility” John Stuart Mill writes that the Principle of Utility is the placement of happiness, of the individual, but mostly of society as a whole, ought to be the ultimate end in intentions and actions. These considerations weigh the consequences of what the outcome could be, to produce the most beneficial outcome for everyone. The most beneficial outcome according to Utilitarianism is the one which maximizes everyone’s happiness overall by weighing the sum of the happiness now to that of later. He describes this duty to happiness is more easily learned than the duty to virtue. As “moral feelings are not innate, but acquired,” and happiness is experienced by all peoples, Utilitarianism can be understood and adopted by many, thus creating a society where the happiest outcome is achieved.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mill also states that Utilitarianism is not promoting selfishness or self-indulgence. The happiness mentioned is not solely that of the individual, but primarily that of society as a whole. In fact, all actions should be based on what is better for society as a whole. Usually, however, most actions that an individual can take have a very small scope in its effect for the whole of society. But it…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized until personal experience has brought it home.” This famous quote is said by British Philosopher, John Stuart Mill. (1806-1873) Growing up with his father, James, Mill’s had an intense (lack of a better word) childhood education. Soon, he wrote about freedom of expression and was active in women’s rights, which is an idea far ahead of his time. John Stuart Mill’s famous work “On Liberty” is a classic text on modern liberalism. Mill’s was a principle idealist on the philosophy of Utilitarianism, the belief that a morally good action is one that helps the greatest number of people" [Defined by Merriam-Webster] actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness,…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mill is a utilitarian philosopher who lives by the Greatest Happiness Principle, in which there is a clear distinction between both lower and higher pleasures. Though thoroughly explained, one must also question the justification of these pleasures. Many of these beliefs leave the reader hanging on the edge, with further questions that need to be answered. What is the exact distinction between the lower and higher pleasures? And how are higher pleasures measured as most valuable? How clearly is Mill’s view of lower and higher pleasures justified?…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociological Imagination

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    According to Mills, society plays a big impact on a person’s life, in The Sociological…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays