John Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Essay - 1099 Words

John Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Along with other noted philosophers, John Stuart Mill developed the nineteenth century philosophy known as Utilitarianism - the contention that man should judge everything in life based upon its ability to promote the greatest individual happiness. While Bentham, in particular, is acknowledged as the philosophy’s founder, it was Mill who justified the axiom through reason. He maintained that because human beings are endowed with the ability for conscious thought, they are not merely satisfied with physical pleasures; humans strive to achieve pleasures of the mind as well. Once man has ascended to this high intellectual level, he desires to stay there, never descending to the lower level of†¦show more content†¦In Utilitarianism, Mill noted, â€Å"utility includes not solely the pursuit of happiness, but the prevention or mitigation of unhappiness† (Mill 12). The pursuit of pleasure has also been condemned by critics as being little more than the promotion of one’s own interests, with no regard to the happiness of others. Mill disputes this as being narrow-minded, clarifying that the pleasure principle which forms the foundation for utilitarianism, â€Å"what is right in conduct, is not the agents own happiness, but that of all concerned† (Mill 16). With this acknowledgment, however, comes the criticism that people cannot possibly be motivated by something as satisfying the collective good of society. Mill countered this by pointing out, â€Å"The utilitarian morality does recognize in human beings the power of sacrificing their own greatest good for the good of others† (Mill 16). To the objection that pleasure is an acceptable end is contrary to Christian principles because it is â€Å"godless,† Mill states, â€Å"If it be a true belief that God desires, above all things, the happiness of his creatures, and t hat this was his purpose in their creation, utility is not only not a godless doctrine, but more profoundly religious than any other† (Mill 21). Mill’s pleasure principle was disputed by both philosophers and theologians because of its apparent lack of association to a code of morality. To this, Mill contended that there canShow MoreRelatedUtilitarian Perspective On Feminism1563 Words   |  7 PagesRights John Stuart Mill’s discussion of the subjection of women leaves many scholars regarding him as one of the first feminist philosophers of his time. His work analyzes and questions the everyday perspectives on women’s rights, and challenges common societal notions. Many philosophers today look to his work for a variety of reasons; some applaud his work for being ahead of it’s time. Others dismiss it, claiming that it’s flawed due to personal attachment. Both sides however regard Mill’s writingRead MoreKant: Moral Theories1002 Words   |  5 PagesKants moral theory According to Timmons, the field of philosophy is not complete without the mention of Kant whose contributions were major (205). This, he adds, was influenced by his originality, subtle approach and the difficulty of his works. Timmons cites that moral requirements are a requirement of reason, which is the ideology of Kant’s Moral theory; hence, immoral act is an act against reason. Consequently, speaking on the terminologies of Kant we visualize moral requirements as CategoricalRead MoreA Study Of Ethics By Immanuel Kant And John Stuart Mill992 Words   |  4 PagesWoman Syndrome (BWS). The two most renowned ethicists, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill would view this case differently. 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The event in questionRead MoreMill and Kants Efforts to Solve an Ethical Dilemma822 Words   |  4 Pagesto apply the moral theories of John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant is solving an ethical dilemma. John Stuart Mill opens his utilitarian postulation by asserting that ethical statements cannot be subjected to scientific or mathematical provability (West 23). Mill’s utilitarianism is the moral standpoint that views actions as right or wrong in proportion to how they advance happiness or pleasure (Bailey 23). By maximizing utility, Mill implies increasing happiness (West 57). Mill urges moral actorsRead MoreReconciling Moral Theories889 Words   |  4 Pagesand determining the compatibility of their particulars can be a daunting task. Determining the compatibility of John Stuart Mill’s modern moral theory of utilitarianism with Aristotle’s pre-modern moral philosophy will involve an in-depth exploration for each moral philosophy, comparing and contrasting the smallest details of each. To start, an understanding of Aristotelian moral philosophy is fundamental. Aristotle basesd his theory on the concepts of â€Å"virtue,† coming from the Greek word â€Å"arà ªte† meaning