Mill’s Utilitarianism Chapters III, IV, and V

Moral Motivation & Sanctions

The GHP derives its binding force from sanctions: external (law, public opinion) and internal (guilt, shame). These internal sanctions arise from a natural sentiment—the social feelings of mankind and the desire for unity with others (sympathy).

Cultivating Sympathy

Sympathy must be cultivated through widespread education. This education should be religious in form (pervasiveness and moral intensity) but secular in content (cf. Comte’s “religion of humanity”).

Mill’s “Proof” of the GHP

First principles can't be proven deductively, but Mill tries anyway: people desire happiness, so happiness is desirable. However, this has problems.

Is/Ought Problem & Composition Fallacy

1) Desirability argument confuses “desired” with “ought to desire.” 2) Mill assumes if each person desires their own happiness, then society desires general happiness—Sidgwick rejects this.

Pleasure as Axiomatic Good

To avoid these problems, Mill treats pleasure as intrinsically good, pain as bad. But critics ask: are there other intrinsic goods?

Indirect Utilitarianism

Mill argues things like virtue, truth, and beauty become parts of happiness—not just means to it—when they are desired for their own sake.

Constituents vs. Causes of Happiness

Mill says goods like money, fame, and health become parts of happiness, but critics argue they are only causes of pleasure—not pleasure itself (category mistake).

Fetishism & Psychological Illusion

Treating means (like money or fame) as ends is a kind of fetishism, but Mill thinks this illusion can be useful for social utility.

Transparency Objection

Mill’s use of psychological illusion may conflict with his demand for transparency in political contexts (e.g., “publicity” requirement).

Justice, Morality & Expediency

1) Justice = perfect duties + rights, enforced by law. 2) Morality = imperfect duties, enforced by opinion. 3) Expediency = admirable but non-obligatory acts. Justice is grounded in and limited by utility.