Ryan Scellick

Mills/Utilitarianism

Mills response to the charge that utilitarianism was a philosophy “fit for swine” hedonism is crass. Ex. The man show.

Criticisms of higher/lower pleasure: 1) cultural elitism (ethnocentricism) 2) Classist 3) Mills tries to smuggle in other values to utilitarianism

Mills definition of pleasure: Higher: Whine drinking, chess, opera, (intellectual things)
Lower: Beer, pizza sports, the man show.

Higher pleasure= these are better
Pleasure + knowledge, Pleasure + Art, Pleasure + Achievement

Consequentalism The right act is that which maximizes value. (theory of action)

Utilitarianism= Hedonism + consequentalism

- The right act is that wich maximizes pleasure and happiness

Arguments in favor of Utilitarianism: 1) Simple and elegant 2) Strong intuitive support 3) Doesn’t relie on transcendent value, god, metaphor 4) objective

Criticisms: 1) To demanding, requires 2 much sacrifice
2) Goes against human nature/ impractical
3) People disagree on what produces happiness & how to obtain it.