JOHN STUART MILL

JOHN STUART MILL

Utilitarianism The ethical doctrine that one should always act in a way that maximizes "utility'' which is understood as the greatest good for the greatest number. According to act utilitarianism, one should perform the act that maximizes utility in a particular situation.

- Political parties utilize this philosophy


- Secular ethic


- A theory of human nature

- The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals "utility" or the "greatest happiness principle" holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness

- This theory of morality is grounded namely, that pleasure and freedom from pain are the only things desirable as ends! And that all desirable things are desirable either for pleasure inherent in themselves or as means to the promotion of pleasure and prevention of pain.


- Human beings have facilities more elevated than the animal appetites and, when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness, which does not include their gratification

- However, that utilitarian writers in general have placed the superiority of mental over bodily pleasures chiefly in the greater permancy, safety, uncostliness, ect., of the former-that is, in their circumstantial advantages rather than in their intrinsic nature.