Utilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill - 1599 Words

Utilitarianism is a doctrine in normative ethics that is outlined and defended by many philosophers, including the English philosopher John Stuart Mill as a standard to determine what are right and wrong actions. At its most basic claim, the right course of action one must take should be in the interest of maximizing what is known as utility. The right course of action is determined as being right if it maximizes the total benefit and happiness gained, while at the same time reducing the greatest amount of pain for the greatest number of people. To put it simply, utilitarianism merits the greatest good for the greatest number. In Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill details his explanation and support of the theory, and provides common criticisms of the theory that he refutes throughout the piece. A couple of these critiques include claims that the concept of utility is opposed to the concept of pleasure, and that it â€Å"renders men cold and unsympathizing† (p. 20). With convi ction, Mill is able to successfully vindicate and define utilitarianism from critiques, although he could go beyond defining by providing examples and illustrations of utilitarianism in the way that critiques perceive it to be in order to demonstrate faults and holes that would arise. The principle of utility is a concept that was primarily introduced academically by philosopher Jeremy Bentham and later confounded upon to become what is known as the â€Å"Greatest Happiness Principle.† Bentham focuses on theShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism880 Words   |  4 Pagessometimes hard to define, but with John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism it is a little bit easier. Utilitarianism is an easy one, for the reason that it is defined by the greatest happiness for everyone involved. Sometimes it does not always make everyone content, but if you look at it as a whole it makes sense. Mill says that we have to look at the bigger picture. One personâ⠂¬â„¢s happiness affects another’s and so on. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that John Stuart Mill, the philosopher, formulated toRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill1365 Words   |  6 Pages In John Stuart Mill’s book Utilitarianism, he argues for the defense of utilitarianism, an age old theory originally developed by Jeremy Bentham that states the proper course of action is the one that maximizes happiness. The course of action that maximizes general happiness is also the only true standard for moral assessment. Mill also introduces the idea of ‘first principle’ which states that it is not acceptable for individuals to characterize actions as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, because it isRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill1372 Words   |  6 PagesAct Utilitarianism is a long standing and well supported philosophical argument that when boiled down to its most basic elements, can be described as creating â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number† (122). Such was the sentiment of John Stuart Mill, one of act utilitarianism’s (also known as just utilitarianism) greatest pioneers, and promoters. Mills believed that his theory of always acting in a way that achieved the greatest net happiness was both superior to other philosophical theories andRead MoreUtilitarianism By John Stuart Mill1805 Words   |  8 PagesIn his book Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill presents his exposition and his major defenses of the philosophy of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism, a theory in ethics developed by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham, focuses on a concept of utility that focuses on deciding if actions are morally right or wrong by analyzing the pleasure and pain they cause. In other words, if an action causes primarily pleasure for all parties, then it must be good and right; however, if it causes pain for the parties involvedRead MoreThe Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill984 Words   |  4 P agesDecriminalize Drug use Utilitarianism as an example of consequentialism is a moral theory generally considered to have started in the late eighteenth century. In the book Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill he defined the ethical theory stating that â€Å"†¦actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness†(7). The idea behind the theory is that people seek happiness, and that the ultimate goal of all human beings is to be happy.Read MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill854 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Stuart Mill, among other things, was an English philosopher and economist who lived from 1806 to 1873. Mill grew up being immersed in the principles of utilitarianism. Mill’s essay on utilitarianism, titled Utilitarianism, was written to debunk misconceptions of and to provide support for the ideology. Mill’s essay and argument span five chapters, where his discussions range from definitions, misconceptions, re wards, methods, and validity. Utilitarianism is generally held to be the view thatRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism983 Words   |  4 PagesIn Utilitarianism actions are judged right and wrong solely on their consequence, and in order to assess this consequences, the only thing that matters is the amount of happiness and unhappiness caused and by calculating happiness and unhappiness caused, nobody’s happiness counts any more than anybody else’s. Utilitarian ethics is the most common form of ethics used today, it has thrived because two needs have been met by it. Firstly, end-based thinking is common and people have sought to improveRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill And Utilitarianism1202 Words   |  5 Pages I contend that the philosophy of John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism can be used to show that society should will that genetic enhancement be morally acceptable if the adverse cognitive or emotional effects are outweighed by the benefits. Glannon argues tha t gene enhancement is morally objectionable because â€Å"there would be the unacceptable social cost of some people suffering from adverse cognitive or emotional effects of the enhancement.† Under Utilitarianism, society would likely deem that geneticRead MoreUtilitarianism By John Stuart Mill930 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis Paper 2 In the essay â€Å"Utilitarianism† by John Stuart Mill, he explains his support for utilitarianism and argues any misconceptions of it. In his essay he talks about the difference between higher and lower pleasures and what significance they have in his utilitarian moral theory. His theory is based on the rule that â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.† Many people experience different kinds of pleasureRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill2436 Words   |  10 PagesUtilitarianism is an ethical speculation that communicates that the best movement is the one that expands utility. Utility is portrayed in various courses, frequently to the extent the success of mindful substances, for instance, people and diverse animals. Jeremy Bentham, the coordinator of utilitarianism, delineated utility as the entire of all bliss that results from a movement, short the burden of anyone req uired in the action. Utilitarianism is a variation of consequentialism, which communicates