Utilitarianism - John Stuart Mill

Question 1

John Stuart Mill

Answer 1

-godson of Bentham
-agreed with capital punishment for its deterrent effect
-disagreed with Benthams idea that all pleasures are equal

Question 2

rule utilitarianism

Answer 2

-believed pleasure should be qualitative rather than quantitative. avoids well being of a person being ignored over the pleasure of a greater number.
-Mill worried Utilitarianism was being criticised for being about ‘pleasure seeking’ above more noble or moral acts
-developed higher and lower pleasures

Question 3

Higher pleasures

Answer 3

-cultural and intellectual pleasures
-qualitatively superior
-mill said Bentham made a mistake to

Question 4

Lower pleasures

Answer 4

-physical
-eating, drinking etc

Question 5

pleasures according to Mill

Answer 5

-pleasures of mind higher than pleasures of the body
-even though you need lower pleasures to survive, higher pleasures should be more important objective

Question 6

Benthams flaws according to Mill

Answer 6

-terrible thing could be justified
-Bentham emphasised quantity over quality. amount of pleasure mattered over type.
-Mill said not true that ‘pushpin is equal to poetry’

Question 7

Mill-Quality

Answer 7

-ethical naturalist as he described happiness in terms of quality
-fair and just distribution of those natural benefits

Question 8

Mill-Rules

Answer 8

-argued for distinction between higher and lower pleasures.
-mill argues rather than considering only anticipate results of particular actions, important to take into account positive benefits offered by genre moral rules/principles

-many moral rules have developed naturally, as it found that not stealing, lying or murdering had beneficial effects on society

-such principles justifies as they produce balance of pleasure over pain