John Stuart Mill – Utilitarianism

In this reading Mill attempts to address the following three criticisms:

1. Utilitarianism doesn’t actually provide a reason for acting morally i.e. for acting in a utilitarian way to maximize utility.
2. Utilitarianism doesn’t account for the higher values of life, things like virtue and knowledge that are more important than pleasure. It is a doctrine “fit for swine” because it claims that the only thing that is valuable is crude physical pleasure.

Two main arguments in the reading

1. Mill’s Argument for Higher and lower Pleasures
2. Mill’s Argument for the greatest happiness principle.

Mill’s Argument for Higher and Lower Pleasures

Mill’s Claim: “It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool or the pig are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question. The other party to the comparison knows both sides”

Bentham vs. Mill – Higher and and lower pleasures?

Bentham “pushpin is as good as poetry”

“The utility of all these arts and sciences, –I speak of those of amusement and curiosity, –the value which they possess, is exactly in proportion to the pleasure they yield. Every other species of preeminence which may be attempted to be established among them is altogether fanciful. Prejudice apart, the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts and sciences of music and poetry. If the game of push-pin furnished more pleasure, it is more valuable than either. Everybody can play push-pin: poetry and music are relished only by a few.”
– Jeremy Bentham