Moral: Utilitarianism- 3. mill's proof

Question 1

What does utilitarianism claim is the only thing that is good?

Answer 1

Happiness

Utilitarianism posits that our actions and lives should aim at happiness.

Question 2

What are the two stages of Mill’s proof?

Answer 2

• Happiness is good
• Happiness is the only good

Question 3

In Mill’s proof, what does the term ‘good’ refer to?

Answer 3

An end, goal, or purpose of our action

Question 4

What does Mill argue is desirable?

Answer 4

What we actually desire shows us what is desirable

Question 5

What is the conclusion about the good for a person?

Answer 5

Their happiness

Question 6

What is the conclusion about the good for people in general?

Answer 6

The general happiness

Question 7

According to Mill, what is everything else besides happiness considered as?

Answer 7

A means to happiness or part of it

Question 8

What analogy does Mill use to support his argument?

Answer 8

The only proof that an object is visible is that people actually see it

Question 9

What is a fallacy?

Answer 9

An error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid

Question 10

What fallacy does G. E. Moore accuse Mill of committing?

Answer 10

The fallacy of equivocation

Question 11

What are the two different meanings of ‘desirable’ according to Moore?

Answer 11

• Worthy of being desired (good)
• Capable of being desired (what people desire)

Question 12

What is the fallacy of composition?

Answer 12

Attributing some feature of the members of a collection to the collection itself

Question 13

What does Mill argue about the relationship between individual and general happiness?

Answer 13

Each person’s happiness is good to that person, and the general happiness is good for all

Question 14

What does Mill say about morality?

Answer 14

Morality is impartial and concerns the general happiness

Question 15

Fill in the blank: In his proof, Mill aims to show that happiness is the ______.

Answer 15

only good

Question 16

Fill in the blank: M…….. accuses Mill of the fallacy of ______.

Answer 16

equivocation

Question 17

Fill in the blank: Nozick’s Experience Machine challenges ______, which holds that ______ is the only good.

Answer 17

utilitarianism, happiness

Question 18

What does fecundity mean?

Answer 18

The ability to produce offspring or new ideas

Question 19

According to Mill, who will be able to tell whether something is a higher or lower pleasure?

Answer 19

Those who have experienced both

Question 20

According to Smart, what is the difference between pleasures not about?

Answer 20

Quality, but of our preference

Question 21

What are ‘external’ means in Mill’s argument?

Answer 21

Instrumental means that help achieve a particular end

Question 22

What are ‘constitutive’ means in Mill’s argument?

Answer 22

Part of what makes up a particular end

Question 23

Fill in the blank: Mill stresses that it is impossible to desire something you don’t find ______.

Answer 23

pleasant

Question 24

Does Mill sound like a hedonist?

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

What is a key criticism of Mill's claim that happiness is the only good?

Answer 25

People desire things besides happiness

Question 26

How does Mill respond to the objection that people desire things other than happiness?

Answer 26

Those things are desired as means to happiness

Question 27

What does Mill clarify about happiness?

Answer 27

Happiness has many ingredients that are desirable in themselves