Preview

Utilitarianism Stuart vs Mill

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
994 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Utilitarianism Stuart vs Mill
One of the major players in ethical theories has long been the concept of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism states that in general the ethical rightness or wrongness of an action is directly related to the utility of that action. Utility is more specifically defined as a measure of the goodness or badness of the consequences of an action. Utility is considered to be the tendency to produce happiness. There are two types of Utilitarianism; "act" and "rule". An act utilitarian uses thought processes associated with utilitarianism to make all decisions. This requires a lot of thought and careful calculation. For example, an act utilitarian deciding from a list of possible day trips would sit down and calculate out the utility of each possible decision before coming to a conclusion as to which one was preferable.
Contrary to an act utilitarian, a rule utilitarian uses the principles of utility to create a set of rules by which they live. Rule utilitarians are not incapable of calculating a decision; they just do not see a need to do it all the time. For example, a rule utilitarian might have some rules like this: in general do not kill, in general do not steal, in general do not lie; but if they found a situation that might except the rule they would do the calculations due to it and make a decision based on that. Perhaps the two greatest proponents of utilitarianism as an ethical theory were Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
Though the terms act and rule utility came after the time of Bentham and Mill, it can still be noted that Bentham was clearly an act utilitarian and the Mill was a rule utilitarian. This paper will focus on the way Bentham and Mill would direct us to apply the principle of utility, and the possibility that the differences in their views may make us come to different moral decisions.
In the application of the principle of utility, Bentham and Mill differ greatly. Bentham is an act utilitarian, this means that he believes in a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    There are many strengths of rule utilitarianism over act utilitarianism. Instead of having to carry out utilitarian calculations for every act, we simply obey the appropriate rule utilitarian rule. Unlike following act utilitarianism’s rules of thumb, obeying a rule utilitarian rule can never lead us to act wrongly because rule utilitarianism defines right acts as those that obey the rules (as long as these rules do not conflict). Act utilitarianism requires that we do what produces the greatest utility in each given situation, even when that seems to go beyond the call of duty. Rule utilitarianism instead requires that we follow a rule or practice only if that rule or practice itself would promote utility.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “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” (11). That quote is from “Utilitarianism” written by John Stuart Mill. Mill is noted in history as a man who pushed for radical change of social and legal principles using Utilitarianism as his guide. That quote sums up his belief in that theory. In this essay I will be discussing Mill, the theory of Utilitarianism and how that theory relates to contemporary ethical issues.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism = an ethical philosophy that says the most ethical decision or course of action is the one that maximize utility.…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Utilitarianism favors a course of action that facilitates happiness. It can be considered as a form of consequential processes. According to this principle of classical ethical theory, utilitarianism refers to the moral value of an action though the determination of the resultant outcomes of the action. However, considerations should be placed on actual consequences, intended consequences and foreseen consequence. A classical study of this principle can be seen in the orders the military gives out or obeys (Arrigo, 2006). Utilitarianism principles have characteristics of reductionist and quantitative approaches to ethical issues, and it can be seen as a form of naturalism. Utilitarianism can be distinguished from deontological principles because deontology does not regard consequences as a determinant to moral value. Utilitarianism can also be distinguished from virtue ethics because virtue ethics emphasis on habits and acts that lead to happiness.…

    • 2731 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Utilitarianism, the theory that actions are right if they useful for the majority, the greatest happiness and pleasure for the greatest and majority of people. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was an English moral philosopher concerned with social reform, Bentham wanted people to seek pleasure and avoid pain. On the other hand John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) who was a great admirer of Bentham; however, he believed in the principle of utility and the idea that please should be ranked according to quality not quantity. For example: eating a mars bar is a poorer pleasure compared to listening to poetry. Mill believing in pleasures of the mind is greater than pleasures of the body (eating). Within this essay I shall be discussing the different views of Bentham and Mill and how their theories are strengths for the utilitarian system.…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill’s notion of “higher pleasures” addresses the second objection to utilitarianism - that it reduces all values to a single scale (Sandel, 2009, p. 52). In the book it was mentioned that Mill tries to show utilitarians that they can distinguish higher pleasures from lower ones. Mill talks about how the higher pleasures are those that produce stronger and longer pleasures (Sandel, 2009, p. 52). It is interesting that Bentham doesn’t recognize qualitative distinction between pleasures, as for him pleasure is pleasure and pain is pain. The main focus for Bentham is that he is interested in the intensity and duration of the pleasure or pain (Sandel, 2009, p. 52).The difference between Bentham and Mill is that Bentham sees all pleasures as equal, while Mill believes you can differentiate between higher pleasures from lower ones by experiencing it (Sandel, 2009, p. 51-52). Mill’s notions was successful in improving Bentham’s utilitarianism because you can experience both the higher and lower pleasures and then determine the desirable one (Sandel, 2009, p. 54). As mentioned in the book Mills tried to save utilitarianism by recasting it as a more humane way. Also morality plays a major role because Mill was concerned about the humanitarian’s views such as individual rights and higher/lower…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    act and rule

    • 777 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout this essay I will be comparing the Act and Rule variations of Utilitarianism to uncover the difference between the two. Utilitarianism is teleological or consequentialist approach to ethics, which argues that something is good or bad according to its benefit for the majority of the people. Jeremy Bentham formalized this theory through his principle of Utility, “the greatest good for the greatest number”. Act Utilitarianism is often linked to Jeremy Bentham’s principle of Utility as it follows the one rule – “the greatest good for the greatest number”. So an individual action is only right if it promotes happiness. Rule utilitarianism argues that moral rules, also based on the principle of Utility, should be kept by everyone in similar circumstances.…

    • 777 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    John Stuart Mill was considered a Utilitarian. The philosophy of Utilitarianism is that an action should be decided by what is best for society. Mill’s philosophy was in part developed by his upbringing as a child. His childhood was restricted and he was raised in an enviroment where is emotionally needs were not met. Also his father was a friend of Jeremy Bentham. Bentham was a philosopher credited with starting the beginings of the Utiltarianism philosophy. He focused on the relationships between the social classes and working towards social reform. His philosophy focused more on social conditions and human behavior than previous philosophies had. He looked at practical solutions for societies problems and less on the metaphysical aspects…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shaw and Barry

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Two different forms of utilitarianism are described in our text. The first is called act utilitarianism. According to Shaw and Barry, act utilitarianism states that we must ask ourselves what the consequences of a particular act in a particular situation will be for all those affected (p.60).…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism can be classified in two distinct ways, act and rule. In these ways the utility principle is applied differently. Act-Utilitarianism is concerned with treating each moral situation as unique; therefore, applied the utility principle to each act. The Fundamentals of Ethics states, “Rule-utilitarianism is the version of rule consequentialism that says that well-being is the only thing of intrinsic value” (Shafer-Landau, Russ G-6). This means rule-utilitarianism draws up general rules based on the utility principle. Furthermore, rules are right if they produce greatest happiness for the greatest number.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Rule utilitarians would ask the question ‘what if everyone did that?’ (MacKinnon and Fiala) and apply the principle to assess the practice. Then, when evaluating if the action is justified, they would see if it follows the rule or practice that generates the maximum happiness (Nathanson). To get a better understanding of how each of the two versions assesses actions differently, three different situations have been described below along with an explanation of what act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism suggest the proper course of action should…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism is one of the most powerful and persuasive approaches to normative ethics in the history of philosophy. The utilitarian approach to ethical decision making focuses on taking the action that will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It also focuses on the consequences of the course of action and policy, as well as the affects it has on the well-being of the people directly or indirectly impacted by that action or policy. This approach is used to promote the welfare of everybody by maximizing benefits and minimizing harm (Zalta & Geoff, 2008). For instance, when faced with a situation your first thought or question is what should you do? Once you assess the situation then you would apply which ethical decision is the best action to take. If you implement the utilitarian approach you did so with the intent of producing the greatest balance over harm.…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ethics Intro Paper

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Utilitarianism is the approach to ethics that focus on choosing the act that has the best consequences (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). The utilitarian will view all the good and bad produced by the act (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). Utilitarian’s do not view the difference in chosen act based as moral issues. Acts are classified as morally right or wrong only if the action has consequences that have a result that has a preferred manner (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). Utilitarianism focuses on the act on the individual performing the action. Utilitarianism only addresses morality if the act is the preferred action but if not, morality does not play a role in basing decisions (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). Ethics is not viewed in utilitarianism as well because decisions are based on best outcome for the individual.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill (1806-1871) decided to refine Bentham’s theory of utilitarianism. However when he refined the theory he kept the same general principle as Bentham which is maximising…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    telescope

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The concept of utilitarianism is that any action should create the most amount of happiness for the most number of people. Utilitarian’s believe in the principle of utility as the one universal moral code. Act utilitarianism states that it is the right action that brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. It is a concept that believes that the morality of an action is determined by its usefulness to most of the people, that this act is in accordance with the moral rules since it brings greater good or happiness. Rule utilitarianism tells us that we should follow certain rules in order to achieve the most desired consequence. It adheres to the belief that the correctness of an action is determined by the correctness of its rules and that if the correct rule is followed, the greatest good or happiness is achieved. Mill and Bentham each believe in their own type of Utilitarianism and have their own theories. Bentham focuses on pleasure whereas Mill focuses on happiness. Similarly, they are both searching to maximize happiness. Bentham is concerned for the individual alone, but Mill suggests we should protect a common good. Bentham suggests a means for quantitive pleasure with his Hedonic Calculus, but Mill suggests qualitative views with higher or lower pleasures. Bentham believed that what is pleasurable is good and what is painful is bad. According to act-utilitarianism, it would be morally wrong to waste time on leisure activities such as watching television, since our time could be spent in ways that produced a greater social benefit, such as charity work. According to this theory, it is the value of the consequences of a particular act that counts while determining whether an act is morally correct or not. The value of consequences of an act is determined by the number of positive outcomes that can result for the greatest number of people. His moral theory is based on the hedonic calculator, which is used to discover and evaluate which…

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays