Mills utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mills utilitarianism - Essay modelingOne thing which we should watch learned by now during our philosophical journey is that we have to have a theory of human behavior which should be able to address the diversity of human environments and frankincense cannot be very simple and rigid. Utilitarianism is a step in that direction.UtilitarianismThe founder of Utilitarianism was Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). His theory begins with proposition that record has placed human beings under two masters joy and trouble. Anything that seems good must either be directly pleasurable, or thought to be a means to pleasure or to the avoidance of pain. Conversely, anything that seems freehanded must either be directly painful, or thought to be a means to pain or to the deprivation of pleasure. From this Bentham argued that the words right and wrong can only be meaningful if they are used in accordance with the Utilitarian principle, so that whatever increases the net surplus of pleasure all over p ain is right and whatever decreases it is wrong. Moreover, the net pain and pleasure to be considered is not restricted to own(prenominal) level but should be the sum of the pleasure of all involved by acting or getting effected by a particular action. Therefore from utilitarianism we cannot gauge the service program of action by putting it on the personal criteria of pleasure and pain but it has to be more wholesome resultantly more complex but practicable.Basic Objections to UtilitarianismMost difficult part in the implementation of Benthams utilitarianism is that to take an action, integrity has to take into account the expanse of the effects of the actions i.e. how far the consequences going to travel. This factor leads to three basic objections to utilitarianism-1. Utilitarianism is similarly demanding as it is more inclined towards collective good than individual good.2. Utilitarianism is a heartless doctrine as it does not concentrate/focus on the intention but on the co nsequences thus making the undefiled concept of virtuous intent redundant. 3. The Principle of Utility is impractical because one has to think the consequences for which the time and learning might not be available at a particular moment.Mills Modification to UtilitarianismThese basic objections though seem valid were addressed by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). The salient points of his modification to utilitarianism were-1.Introduction of high and Lower Pleasure Mill is of the opinion that pleasure has to be distributed into categories of higher and lower pleasure. At multiplication we may confront a situation that we find a number of actions which might lead to pleasure. In such circumstances we would be at a loss to decide the course of action. It ordain be only the conception of higher and lower pleasure which will give us the efficacy to take correct actions at correct time. In doing so we should also consider that the most befittingly equipped person to judge the distinct ion between the higher and lower pleasure is the one who has experienced both. 2.Introduction of Rules in Moral Decision MakingMill considers that rules can be the force hind end the decision. These rules are in fact the outcome of utilitarianism and they are established by taking into consideration principles of utility i.e. rules which had been giving and will give pleasure to the