The Mill s Utilitarian Principle - 785 Words

4. Give a clear and concise explanation of J.S. Mill’s Utilitarian Principle. How does Mill’s view differ from Bentham’s view? What is this supposed to help us with, morally speaking? Discuss critically. The Utilitarian Principle, or Greatest Happiness Principle (GHP) is defined as: actions are right, or good â€Å"as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (Stumpf, 2015, p. 314). Happiness is defined as a ratio of â€Å"pleasure and absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure† (314). Bentham measured the happiness or pleasure of each individual in aggregate to determine if an action or rule is right or wrong based on weather the outcome results in achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (350). Mill’s Greatest Happiness Principle is not measured in the same way that Bentham’s Utilitarian calculus measured the GHP. Mill was concerned with the fact that there are different types of pleasures in this life that should be considered when making moral decisions. He felt that Utilitarianism could â€Å"maintain consistency† while taking the â€Å"higher ground† he explains, it is quite compatible with the principle of utility to recognize the fact, that some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more valuable than others† (315). Fundamentally, Mill thinks it’s important that â€Å"quality is considered as well as quantity† of pleasures when calculating the GHP (315). He had concerns with Bentham’sShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism : The Utilitarian Moral Theory Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism-Module 5 1. In its general form, what is the utilitarian moral theory? In its general form, the utilitarian moral theory advocates that an action is morally right if it serves the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. 2. What is hedonism, and what is hedonistic utilitarianism? 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