PHL275H5 Lecture 21: Lecture 21 (Mill)
Document Summary
Provide a proof of utilitarianism (insofar as it is possible) we"ll not look at the proof. It"s widelt agreed that the proof is a disaster. However a defence of utilitarianism might not need this. Happiness pleasure and the absence of pain. Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produde the reverse of happiness. Contemporary version: an action is right if and only if it maximizes expected general happiness. Reply: the objector represents human nature in a degrading light . Human beings are capable of pleasures that pigs are incapable of. Pleasures of the mind are more stable, cheaper, safer, etc. Pleasures of the mind are intrinsically better (more desirable) What makes a pleasure better in quality than another: everyone who knows pleasure a and b prefer it, 2) those who know both pleasures (competent judges) would not give up pleasure a for any quantity of pleasure b.
