Utilitarianism- Mill

Question 1

Outline Mill’s proof

Answer 1

Stage 1: happiness is good
People desire pleasure and when they do things they do it to acquire it

Stage 2: ONLY happiness is good
Everything that is good is a means to happiness

External means= what you do to gain pleasure
Constitutive means= part of your pleasure

Happiness lies in morality

Question 2

Explains higher and lower pleasures

Answer 2

It’s better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied

There’s a qualitative difference

Higher pleasures hold more value. They exercise intellectual virtues.
Consist of thought,feeling and imagination.

Lower pleasures hold less value
Eg eating

Question 3

Explain the concept of a competent judge

Answer 3

They’ve experienced both higher and lower pleasures but would always choose higher pleasures

Claims that higher pleasures are better as they hold more value

Question 4

How does Mill respond to objections to act utilitarianism in regards to liberty and rights

Answer 4

We have laws to protect rights

We have a duty to protect rights by following rules

Question 5

Objections to act utilitarianism in regards to individual motives

Answer 5

Actions arise from our character

Motives does have something to do with morality

*morality is concerned with character

Question 6

Objections to act utilitarianism in regards with problems with calculation

Answer 6

We have rules so we don’t need the calculation

Rules based on calculation

Question 7

Objections to act utilitarianism in regards to personal relationships

Answer 7

We consider family partiality means we consider personal relationships