Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill theorized the 'principle of utility' or 'thegreatest happiness principle'; which sought for the systematic coherency ofethical philosophy through the consequences of actions. He believed thatthis principle was the primary consideration determining social morality,presupposed by the acquisition of happiness as opposed to the avoidance of For Mill, morality is an externalized process that is dependent onaction and reaction to behaviors and, or, consequences. The shared beliefsof society determine the "rightness' or 'wrongness' of the action in orderto set the laws and the ethical standards of society. In the secondchapter of Utilitarianism, Mill describes the motivation for moral behavioras "The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or theGreatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion asthey tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverseof happiness" (Internet source). By happiness is intended pleasure, andthe absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure. The moral standard set up by Mill's includes the ideas of pain andpleasure; and to what extent this is left an ope
Actingautonomously is "the possession of the self-control to limit one's moraldecisions to purely rational decision making, ignoring the temporarycoercion of inclination in favor of the permanent principles of a priorirationality. But thesesupplementary explanations do not affect the theory of life on which thistheory of morality is grounded- namely, that pleasure, and freedom frompain, are the only things desirable as ends; and that all desirable things(which are as numerous in the utilitarian as in any other scheme) aredesirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as means tothe promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain (Mill Internetsource). People, therefore, arenot merely things to be used to reach one's goal, but instead sentientbeings with worth beyond measure" (West Internet source). " Kant is famous for his belief that Man, as the representation of theonly rational being, is subject to the moral command and possesses dignityand value beyond price. The needs of the individual are tantamount to theneeds of the community when the consequences of collective behavior isevaluated. The establishment of a moral tradition is seenas an essential component in the process of obtaining happiness within thelimitations of society. However, each individual owns a subjective realityand the morality of universality insists that all individuals have the samerational potential as every other, and must be treated with the respect dueto one of the same moral stature. He provides the 'tool' of contrasting happiness and painas a means to understand the behavior of the individual, the establishmentof an individual's sense of morality and extended it to be applicable tothe societal framework. If you choose to act in a manner that goes against a priorirationality, you can justifiably be coerced into acting in accordance withthose moral laws" (West Internet source). In his principle of utility, Mill has set the definitions andparameters of the individual's conceptualization of societal structurewithin a foundation that is easily understood and evaluated againsthistorical data. Moral law cannotbe derived from ends based upon inclination, it is a law to be applied tosuch ends or, more exactly, "maxims of choice. If I treatanother person with anything less than the dignity due to a rational moralagent, I deny that individual their basic humanity. Respect is shown by "giving due consideration to theirpossible maxims, and innate dignity" (West Internet source). The individual is seen to expand the potential for individualfreedom as opposed to being restricted by the establishment of a sharedmoral tradition, to the extent that coercion is not incurred.
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