Preview

Strengths Of John Mills Approach To Utilitarianism

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1071 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Strengths Of John Mills Approach To Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism Essay
Fields, Vickie
Grand Canyon University: PHI-305
November 9, 2014

Utilitarianism Essay
Utilitarianism is a theory in ethics regarding actions that maximize utility. Utilitarianism is human- centered and has a foundation of morality. One could say this theory holds to happiness as the principle, at least that is what John Mill proposes. Mills is well known for being not only a great philosopher of his time, but also an advocate for utilitarianism, in so much that Mills believed and even improved upon Bentham’s views.
John Stuart Mill was the most famous and influential British philosopher of the nineteenth century (Clark, 2003). Mill felt that the foundation of morals, “utility” or the greatest happiness principle,
…show more content…
The strengths of Mills approach to utilitarianism would be the fact of the only thing of substance or that matters is what happens in one’s life regardless of the intentions (Qizilbash, 2006). One weakness would be the proposal that one’s intentions do not matter or hold any substantial repercussions. One’s intentions can have a very negative affect on themselves but more important on other’s especially innocent by standers. One’s intentions could be of utmost importance to the good of the majority. Another strength of Mills approach is the fact that Mill considers emotions a form of great pleasure (Qizilbash, 2006). This point of the theory shows some impartiality. Mills also mentions general rules, which in turn would allow for the use of universal rules, and this is a strength for sure. In Mills approach one more weakness would be the ability for one to predict the outcome or consequences. More weaknesses than strengths exist in Mills approach, for instance, to get the greatest good for the greatest number can sometimes make the simplest of actions become immoral- for instance buying something for oneself that is not necessarily needed but none the less something desired, but if that money spent could have been spent elsewhere and been more beneficial to a greater number of people then one is considered immoral or acting immoral. Another weakness in Mills approach is a competent person will always pick a higher pleasure over a lower one …show more content…
J., & Poortenga, A. (2003). The story of ethics, Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
Peck, L. A. (2006). A “Fool Satisfied”? Journalists and Mill’s Principle of Utility.
Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 61(2), 205-213
Qizilbash, M. (2006). Capability, Happiness and Adaption in Sen and J. S. Mill. Utilitas,
18(1), 20-32.doi:10.1017/SO953820805001809
Ring, L., Gross, C. R., & McColl, E. (2010, June). Putting the text back into context: toward increased use of mixed methods for quality of life research. Quality of Life Research. pp. 613-615. doi:

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    With rule utilitarianism you first have to agree to the general rule then after you apply it to specific cases.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rule utilitarianism is a form of utilitarianism that says an action is right insofar as it conforms to a rule that leads to the greatest good, or that "the rightness or wrongness of a particular action is a function of the correctness of the rule of which it is an instance…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 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

    Throughout history philosophers have introduced new ideas and belief systems into society in hopes to better the world they lived in. Many philosophers have introduced ideas that are still in practice in American government. While popular belief among those trying to pave a path forward was that government, as it stood, was tyrannical and overly restrictive, however John Stuart Mill believed that through government happiness and freedom can be achieved.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John Stuart Mill once said, “The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage it contained. That so few now dare to be eccentric marks the chief danger of the time.” John Stuart Mill is one of the most prominent English-speaking philosophers during the 19th century. His works incorporated a huge range of topics in his articles and papers he has written, in which a few of them include A System of Logic, On Liberty, and Utilitarianism. Mill’s main goal when composing On Liberty was best seen by taking a gander at how he talked about his work in his Autobiography. Mill composed that he accepted On Liberty to show the significance to man and to the society, of an extensive variety on sorts of character, and the opportunity given to human instinct to extend itself in…

    • 1470 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Ethical Life, Russ Shafer-Landau talks about John Stuart Mill and his theory on Utilitarianism. Mill states that Utilitarianism is the most influential presentation of doctrine and agrees with the Utilitarian belief of which is ethical decisions should be based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. But if this is true, then would people not act out of personal interest? Utilitarianism, as previously stated, is the belief of which ethical decisions should be based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good 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

    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…

    • 932 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

    John Stuart Mill

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mill’s Utilitarianism states that in order to be moral, one must make decisions based upon the greatest happiness. In…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Mill’s study of ethical action holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes overall "happiness" seems to be more logical, although we all will have our own opinions on morality. Morality can be just a matter of consequences and the act will be “right” or “wrong” according to its penalties or values. Morality is not just a matter of what a person says is right, or because the culture or people of the universe agree with you. As stated in the text, Mill’s criticism of Kant is “the rightness of an act must not be divorced from its consequences”, with right meaning maximizing the happiness of mankind. For every action we do there is a consequence and it is up to ourselves to make the consequence result in happiness. Naturally people will do what feels right or what we may think has the least consequences, which is ultimately our pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Each person's happiness counts as much as anyone else's; hence, Utilitarianism is not a form of ethical or moral egoism in that it does not require us to pursue our own happiness. When deciding to so what is “right” or moral we will determine alternative courses of action; weigh out the consequences of each action and then value to the consequences of each action based on how much happiness is destroyed or produced. We will choose which action provides most benefits and least consequences; therefore we chose actions that result in overall…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory 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

    In his book, J.S. Mill attempts to build on Jeremy Bentham's original idea of Utilitarianism. His definition of the moral theory is one that is grounded in Bentham's original work but also extends to include remarks to criticisms of Utilitarianism.…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    From Britain, philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill produced many articulate and well-structured critiques throughout the 19th century. It would be quite frustrating for one to evaluate Mill's works and attempt to classify his philosophical disposition. Although John Stuart Mill's writings were quite logical and intelligible, it can be seen that his views underwent significant changes throughout his life. Mill's father, an unswerving utilitarian, was very strict in his discipline when raising Mill. This may explain why most of Mill's earlier work had a particularly utilitarian tone to it. Mill shows no uncertainties in his essay on Utilitarianism where he believes:…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism, Mill discusses the concept of utilitarianism, defined as, “The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful of for the benefit of a majority.” Mill elaborates on this idea and within the second chapter of his essay, addresses many misconceptions towards this view. Addressing the given quote, one misconception made is that utilitarianism degrades the meaning of life. Some people oppose this view because they think that it is wrong to say that there is no better end than pleasure and freedom from pain. Mill replies to this by saying that there are different qualities of pleasure. He professes about a higher quality pleasure being one which you would choose above another pleasure even if it meant pain…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays