Mill’s utilitarianism Flashcards
What type of theory is this? (2)
- naturalistic
- qualitative
What is Mill’s theory known as?
Rule utilitarianism
Why did Mill make this theory?
Mill made Rule utilitarianism because he disagreed with Bentham’s version.
What part of Bentham’s theory did Mill primarily disagree with?
He disagreed that pleasures are all equal and measurable.
What does Mill believe to be the greatest importance?
He believes that the well- being of a person is of the greatest importance.
Who did Mill strive to protect and what did this lead to the development of?
Mill strived to protect the minority which led to him making the harm principle.
What does the harm principle put forward/ not consider?
All actions are okay if they don’t physically harm another person.
Doesn’t consider words harmful or psychological harm.
Utilitarianism made humans make decisions based purely on desire and pleasure, how did Mill solve this issue + explain?
He created ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ pleasures.
‘Higher’ (intellectual) are qualitatively better and more important than ‘lower’ (physical) pleasures.
Higher qualitatively better pleasures should be chosen over …?
They should be chosen over more quantitative gratification. Even if the higher pleasure causes less satisfaction.
What does Mill do rather than use the hedonic calculus?
Mill looks at the consequences of following particular rules and calculates the overall utility of accepting or rejecting the rule.
What does Mill believe about rules? (3)
- rules should be universal
- they should develop naturally within society (individuals see its universal benefit)
- rules have to benefit all of society to work
Why does Mill believe moral rules had been developed?
He believes they developed due to their greater societal benefits.
