The Theory Of Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill - 2066 Words

Sarah Marin Intro to Philosophy 11 November 2014 One of the most well known ethical theories is the theory of utilitarianism as described by, one of its strongest advocates, John Stuart Mill, in his book Utilitarianism. To put his argument simply, utilitarianism can be summarized as the greatest amount of good for the largest number of people. While, no one can argue that all people strive to be happy, I disagree with the claims that are ultimately supposed to support the theory. Instead of strengthening his argument, segments of the book undermine and put holes in his reasoning, which serve undercut the ideology as a whole. Mill’s claims fail to acknowledge important aspects of humanity such the complexity of our feelings and emotions,†¦show more content†¦Without an unwavering foundation the principles in which the doctrine is built will be unstable and much more easily torn down by critics. Mills establishes his vital fundamental principle as, â€Å"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, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure.† (Utilitarianism, Chapter 2) Earlier on in his â€Å"General Remarks† he gives an explanation of the Greatest Happiness Principle, â€Å"†¦men’s sentiments, both of favour and of aversion, are greatly influenced by what they suppose to be the effect of things upon their happiness.† This can be interpreted to mean that all human actions are purely done in an effort to attain happiness, or at least done in order to avoid the reverse of happiness. He goes to great lengths to establish a clear and precise explanation of happiness. It is important to note that happiness and pleasure at times overlap, but are not one in the same. This key distinction was the hamartia for Bentham that gave critics the ability to question the validity of utilitarianism as a moral ideology. Under Mill’s interpretation, pleasure is a quality attainable by any being (he uses the example of swine). While a pig can feel pleasure from rolling in the mud, its