Preview

Analysis Of The Theory Of Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
430 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Analysis Of The Theory Of Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill
“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.
Mills was born 20 May 1806 and died in 1873 (MacKinnon 56) just 7 years after marrying his friend of 20 years Harriet Taylor (“Autobiography” 184). He was the oldest son of James Mill. James
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism
    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain the Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism
    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Explain the Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mill's Utilitarianism Chapter Summary
    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mill's Utilitarianism Chapter Summary

    The most important part of the Mill’s utilitarianism chapter is the Greatest Happiness Principle. The Greatest Happiness Principle means the rule of human conduct. This…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Who Is John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

    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
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Strengths Of John Mills Approach To Utilitarianism
    • 1071 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Strengths Of John Mills Approach To Utilitarianism

    Ring, L., Gross, C. R., & McColl, E. (2010, June). Putting the text back into context:…

    • 1071 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ethics Kant vs Mill
    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ethics Kant vs Mill

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

    Pleasures and pain contribute in determining the classification of one’s actions. 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 are significant in determining the results of one’s actions.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill Just And Unjust
    • 1386 Words
    • 6 Pages

    John Stuart Mill Just And Unjust

    With this general happiness for everyone’s well-being, a persons priority or rights can’t take a lead or be more important over the general happiness of everybody (chapter II, p.17). This agrees with Aristotle’s, that the political functioning in a society through virtuous character are to benefit the community. Mill argues against Aristotle by claiming that because having security is the definitive right that is deserved by all people through law, certain actions, such as torture, are just in order to ensure that a person has security (Chapter 5, p.54). With this being said Utilitarianism follows a concept that is focused on the general happiness of everyone in the community, but also the happiness that comes to them through security. Mill states that there are certain qualities that show justice and injustice, and some of these qualities are that it is unjust for a person to be deprived of their legal and moral rights, but it is just that everybody should get what they deserve. According to this, torture of a person, can be justified because it will overall give people assurance of security and happiness. But, it is also unjust because it violates a person’s moral and legal rights. This is where the General Happiness Principle comes into play. The Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness, which is pain (Chapter 2, p. 7). Happiness is the absence of pain or freedom of pain, which is the only thing that should be desirable as an end and people will always choose the end that is overall more desirable in pleasure (Chapter 2, p. 8). Mill clearly states, “…laws and social arrangements should place the happiness or the interest of…

    • 1386 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism
    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages

    John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism

    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
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Research Paper On John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism
    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Research Paper On John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism

    John Stuart Mill would agree that the United States should institute a socialized health care system. He championed the idea of Utilitarianism where society should provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Health is what allows a person to operate and be a functional member of society. It is also within the best interest of the US to give more people the ability to work in supporting one another. Utilitarianisms main idea is the wellness of all people. Access to healthcare would be a central tenant to this philosophy. No one is able to be at full happiness when they are sick or injured.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Good and Evil in High Noon
    • 1373 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Good and Evil in High Noon

    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
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism Analysis
    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page

    John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism Analysis

    It seems John Stuart Mills believe of Utilitarianism applies to this tragic epidemic. The view that right actions are those that result in the most beneficial balance of good over bad consequences for everyone involved. The fact that thousands of human lives were lost, unregistered vaccines were administered, and only a select few received the potentially life- saving vaccine says that if you are a part of the “most” that is worth saving then you are in luck but if you are not in the “most” it will cost you your life. A panel of only twelve, that was chosen by the director and assistant director of the World Health Organization, got to decide for the whole world what was best for the human race as a “whole” is a very scary and sobering reminder…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant Vs Mill
    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Kant Vs Mill

    This view forms the basis of the contrasting argument between him and Kant .Mill principle of `utility also known as the greatest happiness is that, when people act out of duty it justifies the utilitarian principle as a foundation of morals.It explains that actions are right in proportions and promote overall human happiness of everything or anything that can ;possibly tolerate pain.it focus on the consequence of actions.Not on rights or ethical sentiments.it is best to be cultivated and noble…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism Analysis
    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism Analysis

    One of Mill’s strongest arguments in support of his philosophy of morality is seen in the last two paragraphs on page 95 of the textbook Ethical Theory. Here we find one of Mill’s foundational arguments which he later builds upon to argue in favor of utilitarianism.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mill's Utilitarianism Theory
    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mill's Utilitarianism Theory

    Our morality, which is what, is right and what is wrong is based on our decisions and actions we make each and every day. Unlike animals that rely solely on instinct alone, we as human beings have the ability to make our own decisions based upon our beliefs. You have to ask yourself what is more important to you, is it morally right to pleasure the masses even if it causes harm to some people which is Mills Utilitarianism theory or do you do what is logically and morally right according to universal law like Kant’s deontological theory. In Bernard Williams experiment against Utilitarianism Jim is put in a very difficult situation with only two options and can either not kill any of the Indians or kill one of them himself. In this scenario their…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics