Preview

John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
932 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
Criterion of right and wrong
Pleasures and pain contribute in determining the classification of one’s actions. In Mill’s Utilitarianism, he examines what determines an action to be considered right or wrong, his own version of the hedonistic utilitarianism argument. He claims that these qualities, including the quantity, are an important factor in determining, when included in the consequences, the criteria of an action. The consequences are significant in determining the results of one’s actions. In the argument of utilitarianism, if the consequences of an action are good, benefiting the population, then they are considered good. On the other hand, if the actions have negative consequences, then they are considered bad. The consequences
…show more content…
By following these rules, mill explains that the cosnequences will cause pleasure instead of pain, long term pleasure for the person although it may be short term pain currently, and the actions will be considered good, in the eyes of both the group and the individual. However, in the same way that following them is considered good, breaking them in that way is considered bad. For example, if the individual had a rule of completing all his homework before relaxing with his friends, but broke that rule, it would be considered bad afterwards, because the homework would sit there, without being completed. When it is finally time for the student to turn the homework in, having not done it before, the student would have to rush and make mistakes, or he would get a failing grade. In this way, rule utilitarianism works similarly to the utilitarianism accompanied with the qualities of pleasure and pain. Duty utilitarianism is similar to rule utilitarianism, only instead of following rules set by the individual or the group, the factor for determining if an action is right or wrong is set by the individual. The morals and wellbeing of the individual become …show more content…
In Mill’s Utilitarianism, he examines what determines an action to be considered right or wrong, his own version of the hedonistic utilitarianism argument. He claims that these qualities, including the quantity, are an important factor in determining, when included in the consequences, the criteria of an action. The consequences of ones actions are an important element in society, one that is based on cause and effect. When an action is committed, it is important for an individual to consider what the consequences will be, regardless of the motives, because when the action has gone through, the consequences will be held in th spotlight by society, regardless of the motives of the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Some people see Mill as a rule utilitarian, which means that you act in accordance with those rules which, if generally followed, would provide the greatest general balance of pleasure over pain. This rule is also in line with how society works in the way that most people would prefer to cause pleasure rather than pain.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good 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
  • Good Essays

    “The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness” (11). That quote is from “Utilitarianism” written by John Stuart Mill. Mill is noted in history as a man who pushed for radical change of social and legal principles using Utilitarianism as his guide. That quote sums up his belief in that theory. In this essay I will be discussing Mill, the theory of Utilitarianism and how that theory relates to contemporary ethical issues.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism theories hold that the moral worth of actions or practices is determined by their consequences. An action or practice is right if it leads to the best possible balance of good consequences over bad consequences for all affected parties. (Arnold, pp 17)…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Like any other form of consequentialism, the theory believes that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their effects. When it comes to elements that calculate the greatest amount of happiness, many would consider: Pleasure minus pain, intensity, duration, fruitfulness, and likelihood when deciding what one should do. In addition to the five elements, John Stuart Mill believed that Act Utilitarianism is for the greater good. For example: If more of your friends want to go play volleyball rather than basketball. What decision do you make?…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Focusing on act utilitarianism, this direct form works in maxims, expanding the contrast between right and wrong. “An act is right and just in its consequences for human happiness are at least good as any alternative available to the agent” (9). Thus, it is your duty to do the optimal act in a situation because anything other than the best act is a wrong act. Furthermore, Mills also comments that it is considered a “righteous” act if the consequences are just as good or better than any other action. Staying within the ideas of right or wrong, or when decisions seem to commonly be referred to as “black or white,” there is also an ideal of proportions to consider. Remember that the act is right is if brings happiness to the most people, but one is incapable of pleasing every person in every situation. Thus, Mills refers to the “Proportionality Doctrine” to tell what makes an act right or wrong. The Proportionality Doctrine states that acts are right if they promote happiness, or…

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Utilitarianism favors a course of action that facilitates happiness. It can be considered as a form of consequential processes. According to this principle of classical ethical theory, utilitarianism refers to the moral value of an action though the determination of the resultant outcomes of the action. However, considerations should be placed on actual consequences, intended consequences and foreseen consequence. A classical study of this principle can be seen in the orders the military gives out or obeys (Arrigo, 2006). Utilitarianism principles have characteristics of reductionist and quantitative approaches to ethical issues, and it can be seen as a form of naturalism. Utilitarianism can be distinguished from deontological principles because deontology does not regard consequences as a determinant to moral value. Utilitarianism can also be distinguished from virtue ethics because virtue ethics emphasis on habits and acts that lead to happiness.…

    • 2731 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Though the terms act and rule utility came after the time of Bentham and Mill, it can still be noted that Bentham was clearly an act utilitarian and the Mill was a rule utilitarian. This paper will focus on the way Bentham and Mill would direct us to apply the principle of utility, and the possibility that the differences in their views may make us come to different moral decisions.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    John Stuart Mill was considered a Utilitarian. The philosophy of Utilitarianism is that an action should be decided by what is best for society. Mill’s philosophy was in part developed by his upbringing as a child. His childhood was restricted and he was raised in an enviroment where is emotionally needs were not met. Also his father was a friend of Jeremy Bentham. Bentham was a philosopher credited with starting the beginings of the Utiltarianism philosophy. He focused on the relationships between the social classes and working towards social reform. His philosophy focused more on social conditions and human behavior than previous philosophies had. He looked at practical solutions for societies problems and less on the metaphysical aspects…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shaw and Barry

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Two different forms of utilitarianism are described in our text. The first is called act utilitarianism. According to Shaw and Barry, act utilitarianism states that we must ask ourselves what the consequences of a particular act in a particular situation will be for all those affected (p.60).…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mill Utilitarianism Essay

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A common example is slavery: if 95% of the population can be made happy when the other 5% is enslaved is slavery not the greatest good? Utilitarianism allows society to sacrifice the individual, or even the minority for the majority. If by speaking one lie, a person could save 4 lives than that lie would be a moral act; but if by killing one man, that same person could save 4 lives wouldn't utilitarianism find this too to be a moral act? Fortunately Mill has a response to the idea of removing an individual's rights for the good of the whole. . In chapter V of his essay he writes, "To have a right, then, is, I conceive, to have something which society ought to defend me in the possession of." The reason for this, Mill states, is general utility. It is generally better to protect the rights of every man, because this will lead to the most happiness. However, it seems there is still a way to put society before the individual. Because the reason for protecting individual rights is general utility, if violating those rights will cause the least pain, as compared to pain for the whole society, it would be general utility to violate these rights. But perhaps it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice one for the good of…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Good and Evil in High Noon

    • 1373 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Utilitarianism is an ethical theory most often ascribed to the philosopher John Stuart Mill. The utilitarian theory suggests actions and/or intentions are not right or wrong; rather the morality of a choice or act is determined by the outcome or result. Utilitarian’s believe outcomes can be determined in advance of an action and the ethical choice is one which provides the best result or most happiness for the greatest number of individuals (e.g., pleasure, happiness, health, knowledge, satisfaction). The utility theory asserts morality is a means to some other end, it does not stand on its own as being intrinsically moral.…

    • 1373 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Utilitarianism says that the moral and ethical thing to do is that which provides the most happiness or the least unhappiness to society. Sitting in class listening to the lecture on the moral theory of Utilitarianism it first sounded like the best moral theory ever. However as the classes continued and we learned more and more about this theory my opinion quickly changed. In this paper I will defend the idea that Utilitarianism is a failed moral theory.…

    • 1642 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mill believes that, like Bentham, utility is what is valuable to society. Utility, according to Mill, is the promotion of pleasure or the absence of pain. He defines this as happiness, which is why he refers to utility as the Greatest Happiness Principle (Mill 55). Thus, pleasure (or painlessness) is what society finds valuable. Because society finds happiness valuable, it must attempt to maximize total happiness. Mill describes that the presence of pleasure and the absence of pain are the only ends desirable to society. Because of this, any event, decision, or experience is favored only because it is a source for happiness. This means that actions are good if they lead to more happiness and bad if they prevent it (Mill 55) .…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better 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