Visit
http://www.utilitarianism.com/jsmillpic.htm
for additional photos & to read his works
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Learning Outcomes:
Ability to
- State basic biographical information on
Mill;
- State differences between Mill and
Bentham
- Explain how Mill and utilitarians judge social programs;
- Articulate Mill's view on
government control & interference?
- Understand what is meant by Mill's
Altruistic Utilitarianism?
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John Stuart Mill
- biographical essentials
1806 - 1872
- Godson of Jeremy
Bentham
- Godfather of Bertrand Russell
- Oldest of 9 kids
- Son of (guinea pig to) James Mill's educational home
schooling experiments
- Age 3: was taught Greek
- Age 8: Reading Plato, Aristotle. in Greek
- Studied Latin, arithmetic...rigorous program
- Gave daily recitations to his dad
- Age 20: Nervous breakdown. He was the
best-educated teen
- Intensely intellectual personality was balanced with
marriage
- Countered discrimination in
The
Subjection of Women
- 1865: elected to parliament
- An advocate for the poor, the working class, exploited
blacks
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Why did Mill follow in Bentham's footsteps?
Mill followed in Bentham's utility footsteps, as it provided a
framework "unity" wherein he organized his thoughts. Both
wanted to better society. Both were interested in promoting
social welfare: eradicating poverty, raising the dignity of women,
improving health.
Where can one find the kernel of Mill's
philosophy?
In his book,
Utilitarianism, ( book at
http://www.utilitarianism.com/mill2.htm ) wherein he "sought to dispel misconceptions that
morality had nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that it was
opposed to pleasure"
What other writing is is famous for?
On
Liberty (text at
http://www.utilitarianism.com/ol/one.html ) . Here Mill cautioned against excessive governmental control and
interference. It is better to make a mistake and be free than to not
be free and follow rules. He championed free speech. The only time
the government should really step in to to protect its citizens from
harming one another. Interestingly enough, Mill advised the majority to protect the minority in a
well-functioning democracy, as this would, in turn, make for a
better overall society. Social policy should benefit all, not just
the wealthy. Individual freedoms should be
maximized, as long as this doesn't inflict suffering on others. Mill said it is our duty to minimize suffering.
And what other writing is he famous for?
The
Subjection of Women Mill opposed
sexual discrimination and the general social treatment of women.
He was a forerunning in his views that women had talents and that
these should be developed for the betterment of society.
Did Mill Marry?
Harriet Taylor Mill |
Yes,, Mill did marry - Harriet Taylor (1807
–
1858).
She was a liberal
too and served in the British Parliament from 1865 to 1868
(MacKinnon 48).
In
1851 : "Mill married
Harriet Taylor after 21 years of an at times intense friendship
and love affair. Taylor was a significant influence on Mill's work
and ideas during both friendship and marriage. His relationship with
Harriet Taylor reinforced Mill's advocacy of
women's rights.
http://www.answers.com/topic/john-stuart-mill
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How did Mill and utilitarians judge social programs?
By their usefulness. Did they promote the overall good for everyone
& not just the upper class? In the empirical tradition,
observation and experience would yield an answer.
Where did Mill diverge from Bentham?
Mill did not see all pleasures as equal in value and
differentiated higher from lower pleasures. He also rejected the
Hedonic Calculus from a less egoistic measure. Mill found pains and
pleasures to be incommensurable. Weighing pleasure and pain is
analogous to comparing apples and oranges.
Is utilitarianism pleasure selfish or
altruistic?
Mill wanted to avoid having utilitarianism appear as a selfish
pursuit of pleasure. It became imperative that pleasures be
carefully evaluated. Mill was interested in what is today called,
The quality of life. " The emphasis shifted from"
pleasure and pain to an emphasis on quality of life. Mill continued
to use the utilitarian principle of 'the greatest happiness for the
greatest number' as the criterion for deciding which action is
right" however. (Marvin T. Brown, The Ethical Process,
Evaluating Arguments, page 48 @ 1999)
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Contrast Between Mill & Bentham |
| Mill |
Bentham |
| Quotable:
|
|
| "It's better to be a human being dissatisfied, than
a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a
fool satisfied. "(From
Utilitarianism) |
 |
| Quality Matters:
Intellectual, sensitivities, moral sentiment,
imagination, feelings, fulfillment of uniquely human
faculties |
 |
|
Quotable:
"Pushpin is as good as poetry"
[pushpin is a child's mindless game]
"The greatest happiness
of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and
legislation"
"It is the greatest good to
the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and
wrong. "
"Lawyers are the only
persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished."
Note: Quantity Ranks High
Bentham wouldn't say, "My pleasures are more sublime
than yours." |
Comparison between Bentham and Mill - Summary
Bentham sees pleasures in terms of quantity
Mill distinguishes between quality and quantity
Mill is more altruistic than Bentham
Mill rejects Bentham's hedonic calculus
Mill goes one step further than Bentham: Mill says we have a
duty to minimize suffering
| Mill ranks pleasures as higher or lower, with
bodily pleasures on the low scale &
intellectual pleasures on the high scale. Mill holds a noble
view of man insisting that a true definition of
happiness includes the nobler pleasures - which are eternal
rather than ephemeral. |
 |
Superior people seek the higher pleasures
Inferior people seek the lower pleasures and suffer from "infirmity
of character."
"The standard of goodness in behavior, therefore, no
longer involves the simple maximization of pleasure,; rather it
involves the fulfillment of our distinctively human faculties"
(Falikowski 89).
What is meant by Mill's Altruistic Utilitarianism?
Mill has a less egoistic bent than Bentham who simply wanted to
increase pleasure and reduce pain. Mill said the individual
performing the calculations can assume no special privileges or
status. At times Mill's utilitarianism requires personal sacrifice
and altruism. Mill emphasizes the greatest happiness for the
greatest number over personal happiness.
Questions for discussion
- How do our children know what is right and wrong
? Do children have a utilitarian bent?
- When is utilitarianism a great guideline and when is it not?
Selected Quotations for Discussion taken
from
BrainyQuote.com. Do you agree with these quotations?
- A person may cause evil to
others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in
either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.
John Stuart Mill
- 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.
John Stuart Mill
- All desirable things...
are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or
as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of
pain.
John Stuart Mill
- I have learned to seek my
happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to
satisfy them.
John Stuart Mill
- I am not aware that any
community has a right to force another to be civilized.
John Stuart Mill
- If mankind minus one were
of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing
the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified
in silencing mankind.
John Stuart Mill
- It is questionable if all
the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day's toil
of any human being.
John Stuart Mill
- One person with a belief
is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interest.
John Stuart Mill
- Pleasure and freedom from
pain, are the only things desirable as ends.
John Stuart Mill
- Whatever crushes individuality is
despotism, by whatever name it may be called and whether it
professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of
men.
John Stuart Mill
Links
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