Mill and Utilitarianism

Mill:

'The greatest happiness for the greatest number'

• Mill criticised Benthams value of self-sacrifice

• The well-being of the individual is was of the greatest importance.

• Accepted Benthams utility principle but he argued that some pleasures are higher (mind) than others (body).

• Differianted between quality and quantity pleasures

Criticised Bentham:

• Too subjective, non-conclusive
• Moral opinion rather than moral fact
• Justifies immoral acts e.g. ****
• Too bestial- animal like 'turning humans back into animals'
• Looks at the quantity rather than the quality of the pleasure.

• Higher pleasures associated with the mind, intellectual pleasures e.g. cultural activities, reading, spiritual reflection.

• 'It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied'.

• Lower pleasures…