Utilitarianism- Mill

One well-known philosopher who dealt with the theory of utilitarianism was John Stuart Mill. Mill was the leading philosopher in Britain during the nineteenth century and defended the theory of utility against many critics. Numerous others argued that the simple obtainment of pleasure and avoidance of pain was the sole goal of the utilitarian. Meaning that any form of pleasure, whether it be mental or bodily satisfaction, in the greatest amount possible was the only desirable end. Mill, in opposition to this, argues that the higher the quality of a pleasure, the more satisfied the agent would be. He stated that what makes one pleasure more valuable than another is that “if one of the two is, by those who are competently acquainted with both, placed so far above the other that they prefer it, even though knowing it to be attended with a greater amount of discontent, and would not resign it for any quantity of the other pleasure”(Mill, 384). He believes that even if a large amount of lower pleasure is obtained, it still will not be as fulfilling as a small amount of higher pleasure. Mill theorizes that it “is not the agent’s own great

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Unfortunately, even though most people would not deny that the better choice of the two options in the posed situation would be that of the higher quality, it is almost human nature to settle for the easily attainable, less significant satisfaction than to go out of one’s way to acquire the hard to reach, superior gratification.

Firstly, as was previously stated, Mill believes that the higher pleasures, those usually having to do with mental satisfaction rather than bodily gratification, are the more worthwhile of the two choices. Tom has always enjoyed going to the bar around the corner from their apartment to have a drink with his friends but he also aspires to be a great novelist. If an agent wishes to live a satisfying, noble life free of pain and filled with great happiness, he or she can follow the practices of Mill and in turn attempt to avoid the lesser pleasures and strive to attain the superior pleasures. And since it is rarely disputed that the noble character of one, usually gained by the enjoyment of noble pleasures, can be spread more easily to others than the character of one who is only exposed to the lesser pleasures in life, he draws the conclusion that one who experiences superior pleasures will in turn affect others in a more substantial way. est happiness but the greatest amount of happiness altogether”(Mill, 349). Because of this, he would approve of the writing workshops as the noble, and therefore right decision. In conclusion, Mill believes that whether considering the agent himself or the greater good of the community, the ultimate goal is “an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, and as rich as possible in enjoyment”(Mill, 350). The first choice is giving him a certificate to obtain a free drink at a local bar everyday for the next month. To figure out which option would be the “right” one in Mill’s opinion we must consult his theories once again. So, Jen decides to give him a choice between two options she has narrowed it down to. Mill would also state that the gift of the free drinks will most likely only affect the life of Tom, and it will in the long run promote more pain than pleasure because of the health repercussions that are likely to ensue.

From an external point of view, those who believe in Mill’s theories of utilitarianism should find them quite clear and helpful.

A personal-choice situation that would be significant in describing the ideas of John Stuart Mill would be as follows: A woman, who we will call Jen, is planning to buy a nice gift for her husband, who we will call Tom, his birthday is approaching and she is not quite sure what to get him.

Approximate Word count = 772
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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