Chapter 12 - John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism

From Vaughn Textbook, Topics: The Philosopher-Reformer; Mill's Utilitarianism; and Critiques of the Theory

Who was Mill?

An empiricist philosopher dedicated to his liberal and utilitarian ideals bettering society

What were some of the social reforms for which Mill advocated?

Individual liberty, freedom of expression, social tolerance, aid to the poor, abolition of slavery, humane treatment of prisoners, and women’s rights

At twenty, how did Mill gain a new perspective?

He had a mental breakdown which caused him to leave behind less desirable features of Bentham’s theory but remained a utilitarian

What had an impact on Mill’s view on women’s rights?

His marriage to the feminist Harriet Taylor

What earned Mill respect as a philosopher?

His work in epistemology, deductive and inductive logic, political though, and ethics

How do utilitarians judge morality of a conduct?

By the principle of utility → right actions are those that result in greater overall well-being (utility) for the people involved compared to other possible actions

What are the two main forms of utilitarianism?

Act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism

Who devised the classic version of utilitarianism?

Jeremy Bentham

What is the core of classic utilitarianism?

It says that the utility to be maximised is pleasure → happiness is the only intrinsic good

How does Bentham conceive of happiness?

He thinks it is one-dimensional, only being pleasure, and varies only in the amount experienced → moral ideal is to experience maximum pleasure - glutton?

How does Mill conceive of happiness?

He thinks that pleasure can vary in quality and quantity with lower and higher pleasures → lower/inferior indulged by glutton/ilk and higher satisfied by search for knowledge as well as appreciation of art/music

What is the main feature of classic utilitarianism?

It features a strong sense of impartiality, as well as an emphasis on maximising total quantity of net happiness without thought about its rationing among people

What are our considered moral judgements?

Moral opinions that we arrive at after careful deliberation with minimised bias, self-interest, and other distoring influences

What is the most serious criticism of utilitarianism?

It can conflict with our considered moral judgements, and any moral theory that is inconsistent with these can be considered flawed

How do utilitarians respond to major criticism?

They contend that scenarios created are unrealistic and that judgements of common-sense morality and utilitarianism often coincide when all facts are known → do acknowledge that there are cases in which maximising utility contradicts moral judgements, which raises doubt about the utilitarian standard

What is act-utilitarianism?

The idea that the rightness of actions depends solely on the overall well-being produced by individual actions

What is rule-utilitarianism?

The doctrine that a right action is one that conforms to a rule that, if followed consistently, would create for everyone involved the most beneficial balance of well-being over suffering

What are some of the works composed by Mill?

System of Logic, On Liberty, and Utilitarianism

What is the principle of utility?

Right actions are those that result in greater overall well-being (utility) for the people involved compared to other possible actions

What might be the differences in view upon euthanasia of a suffering individual between act-utilitarians and rule-utilitarians?

Act-utilitarian:

• Euthanasia would result in least amount of suffering

• Person out of misery

• Family finds relief

• If illegal, unlikely repercussions if kept quiet

• Overall greater net well-being for euthanasia → correct course

Rule-utilitarian:

• More well-being from following blanket rule disallowing euthanasia

• Permission of mercy killings could increase involuntary euthanasia

• Erosion of respect for medicine

• Weakening of society’s abhorrence for homicide

• Overall great well-being for always disallowing euthanasia → correct course

What is Mill’s famous quote exemplifying his views of higher and lower pleasures?

“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

What is an example in which utilitarianism might contradict a considered moral judgement?

You promise you will help a friend prepare for a big exam, but last minute decide you would rather stay home and watch a movie, calculating that your happiness due to staying home would outweigh your friend’s disappointment at the broken promise → utilitarianism says stay home, moral judgement says keep your promise