Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Title: John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism
Quote: “To do as you would be done by, and to love your neighbor as yourself”
Expectation: I expect to learn more about Utilitarianism, and the moral lessons behind it.
Book Review:
Utilitarianism is about happiness and pleasures. For me, I always attained happiness and
pleasures from my family, friends and the thing that I played with. I never felt anything insecure when I
am with them or playing with them.
Higher pleasures and lower pleasures, this are thing that being tackled in this chapter. Higher
pleasures are those that satisfy us to the max, while the lower pleasures it also satisfies but only a little.
It may act differently on everyone. Some people might experience a certain thing which he considered a
higher pleasure, while the other for them it is a lower pleasure.
Things I have learned:
We should consider Utilitarianism.
The higher and lower pleasures
Integrity Questions:
Who is John Stuart Mill?
What is Utilitarianism?
What is happiness to human?
Review Questions:
1. State and explain the Principle of Utility. Show how it could be used to justify actions that are
conventionally viewed as wrong, such as lying and stealing.
A human does not want to lie or steal from other people. They want to earn it through hardship
2. How does Mill reply to the objection that Epicureanism is a doctrine worthy only of swine?
Mill does not agree with the Doctrine.
3. How does Mill distinguish between higher and lower pleasures?
Lower pleasures is being discontent, while higher pleasure is satisfaction.
4. According to Mill, whose happiness must be considered?
According to Mill, everyone happiness must be considered.
5. Carefully reconstruct Mill’s proof of the Principle of Utility.
People see happiness as earth materials which you can hold or own.
Discussion Questions:
1. Is happiness nothing more than pleasure, and the absence of pain? What do you think?
No, happiness is not always pleasure and the absence of pain because you can’t get it from your
parents.
2. Does Mill convince you that the so‐called higher pleasures are better than the lower ones? What
about the person of experience who prefers the lower pleasures over the higher ones?
For me, the higher pleasures possibly the lower pleasures of other people.
3. Mill says, “In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of
utility.” Is this true or not?
It is false.
4. Many commentators have thought that Mill’s proof of the Principle of Utility is defected. Do you
agree? If so, then what mistake or mistakes does he make? Is there any way to reformulate the
proof so that it is not defective?
Yes, I agree it is defected.