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Why has J.S. Mill's version of Utilitarianism proved to be m

            Utilitarianism began life as an ethical principle under Jeremy Bentham who theorised that an action if right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In its original form the argument had many flaws so John Stuart Mill decided to defend the principle of Utility against it's critics by refining it's ideas making them more practical in society. .
             Jeremy Bentham's theory of Utilitarianism was based on an observation, that the definition "good" in terms of "pleasure" and established that two things are intrinsically good namely pleasure itself and freedom from pain. His logical progression deduced that we ought to increase what is good by increasing what brings us pleasure or freedom from pain. Thus the Principle of Utility was created - "act in such a way as to bring about the greatest happiness of the greatest number working to increase the total sum of pleasure. Mill felt that he could strengthen the argument for Utilitarianism by clarifying it's points. In his famous argument he simplifies the terms "happiness" and "pleasure" used by Bentham as one major criticism is that the word "pleasure" does not have the same meaning as the word "good". He attempts to silence critics of the Epicurian substitution of words by his good but less than airtight argument. His flaws lay again in meaning of words, as desirable is used in two different ways- "can be desired" and "ought to be desired". Also he begins by stating the obvious that individuals desire their own happiness but concludes that everyone's happiness is desirable to everyone else. More correctly it should read "desirable to the individual" and then the argument cease to work. However Mill did not succeed in abolishing all the shortcomings of Bentham's theory. Even the restated version does not avoid the problem of subordinating the rights of the individual to the happiness of the majority. He also could not avoid the uncertainty of the outcomes that stems from the fact the argument is teleological, where deciding whether an action is right or wrong depends on the consequences not the motives.


Essays Related to Why has J.S. Mill's version of Utilitarianism proved to be m

1. Mill's Utilitarianism

Realizing that this would be hard to prove he developed a formula that measures pleasure and pain. ... 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. ... 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. ... He argues that if one person has to choose between higher or lower pleasure, one would choose the higher pleasure. ...

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2. mill

Mill recognized later in life that his father's system had the fault in his practical and emotional life, which has been neglected. ... What is Utilitarianism??? ... John Stuart Mill states "Utility or the Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness" (The Philosophy of J.S. Mill 18). ... Mill 21). ...

  • Word Count: 995
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Mill

Mill recognized later in life that his father's system had the fault in his practical and emotional life, which has been neglected. ... What is Utilitarianism??? ... John Stuart Mill states "Utility or the Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness" (The Philosophy of J.S. Mill 18). ... Mill 21). ...

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  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. John Stuart Mills and Utilitarianism

According to John Stuart Mill, what does it mean to act rightly or be good? ... " Mill proves by this statement that we act in a certain way because of the greatest happiness principle; however, I am not convinced that is the way that people should act or the best way to live a moral life. ... 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 t...

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  • Grade Level: High School

5. John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

In John Stuart Mill's "Utilitarianism", the main theories are greatest happiness principle and hedonism (pleasure is the only intrinsic good). ... They insist happiness is the final objective in our lives and everyone in the society has the right to pursue their own happiness. ... (Chapter 4). " In my preliminary essay, I presented one of the reasons why I will return the wallet, "I will be unhappy for a long period if I keep the large amount. ... So I will return it otherwise I will be guilty more and more with the time passes by. " After read Mill's Utilitarianism, I think my e...

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6. Utility

J.S. ... Discussion: Is Mill's view in this respect consistent with the spirit of Utilitarianism To really understand what Mill means in the context of Utilitarian theory you need to know the general meaning of The Principal of Utilitarianism. The Principal of Utilitarianism is a normative, ethical, and moral theory. ... Mill defines of utilitarianism is 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 of happiness. ... Mill's point is a conceptual one about the concept of mor...

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7. 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 ...

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8. 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
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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