PHIL 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: John Stuart Mill, Consequentialism
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Chapter iv: argument supporting the principle of utility, the greatest happiness principle (ghp) Note: this is not going to be a full proof, but some arguments can be given in support (p. 16, also 3) The arguments in chapter iv are mostly for (a) - all other desirable/good things are so either as parts of happiness or as means to happiness. - so happiness is the only thing intrinsically good: each person"s happiness is a good to that person, and the general happiness, therefore, a good to the aggregate of all persons (17) Therefore, we have reason to say the ghp is valid: actions are [morally] right as they tend to promote happiness for all involved in the action (4) Premise 1: each person"s happiness is desirable for him/her, a good . The only proof capable of being given that an object is visible, is that people actually see it.