John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill

Non-Hedonistic Utilitarianism

  1. The Foundations of Utilitarianism:

    1. Empiricism - we gain all our ideas, and, therefore, our knowledge only through the senses

    2. Bentham's Teleology - the importance of the ends (not means)

      1. An action is right if and only if the consequences of the action are good.
      2. The 'good' is equal to pleasure, the 'bad' is equal to pain.
      3. 'Happiness' is a psychological state with an abundance of pleasure and a minimum of pain ('Unhappiness' is a psychological state with an abundance of pain and a minimum of pleasure)

  2. Non-Hedonistic Utilitarianism -

    1. Two Kinds of Pleasure:

      1. Physical pleasure - physical stimulation
      2. Mental pleasure - consciousness, dignity, knowledge (self-knowledge?), the "higher faculties"

      Since Humans are capable of both kinds of pleasure it is fallacious (i.e., the straw man argument) to condemn it on the grounds that it reduces humans to animals. Humans are capable of experiencing pleasures which animals are not, and that pleasure is superior to animal pleasure. (i.e., Epicureanism) Thus, it is better to be a dissatisfied human than a satisfied animal.

    2. The Utilitarian Principle: Always act so as to foster the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

  3. Two Types of Utilitarianism:

    1. Act Utilitarianism - Actions are good (i.e., right) in so far as they maximize the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

    2. Rule Utilitarianism - Rules are good (i.e., right) in so far as they maximize the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

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PHI 105 Page | Notes Index