Honor 2103
Lecture Notes 1
John Stuart Mill
Brief Biography
• See introductory section of reading selection
Context of Utilitarianism (1863)
• A “scientific basis” for morality, grounded in natural human needs
o Cf. Kant’s deontological moral theory, in the wake of Newton:
universalizable moral laws, intrinsic nature of the action; duty.
• Bentham’s “pig philosophy” and politics
o Pleasure and avoidance of pain, the common, universal human
needs
o Cf. Hobbes’: human self-interest and political structure requires
social contract to stabilize trust; but creates Leviathan?
o Cf. Class differences as ruling policy: laissez faire policies and
competition as justifying inequitable distributions.
• Human nature:
o Cf. Darwinian ideas, humans are part of nature/animal
o No appeal to divine purpose or function, we are not above the fray
Content of Utilitarianism (1863)
• Principle of Utility: an action is judged as good/bad in relation to it
resulting in good/bad consequences
o Good/bad consequences = happiness (and prevention of pain)
o Only thing sought after intrinsically; ultimate ends of human action
• Objections: “pig philosophy” “base pleasure/happiness”
o Bentham took happiness to = pleasure, hedonically calculated,
quantity only. Period.
• Reply: happiness as pleasure must incorporate the quantity as well as
quality.
o Higher vs. Lower pleasures
o Mental vs. Physical pleasures
o How do we know this division, and why are the higher/mental
pleasures preferable?: Ask those with experience in both.
• How do we know this: ask people, they are the final arbiters
• Greatest Happiness Principle:
o Greatest happiness for the greatest number (Hedonic calculus)
o Too much? Too high a standard? – same standard as any other
system of morality, to consider the value of others.
o Utility for all; All sentient beings?
