Utilitarianism Summary

10 questions on the main ideas. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Take it one question at a time

1. Question 1

   According to Mill in 'Utilitarianism', what is the ultimate standard for morality?

   1. Divine command
   2. The greatest happiness for the greatest number
   3. Individual rights and freedoms
   4. Adherence to universal moral duties
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   B. The greatest happiness for the greatest number Mill explicitly states that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. This is the core principle of utility.

2. Question 2

   How does Mill differentiate between 'higher' and 'lower' pleasures?

   1. Higher pleasures are those that are more intense, while lower pleasures are less intense.
   2. Higher pleasures are preferred by those who have experienced both, typically involving intellectual and moral faculties.
   3. Lower pleasures are those that are more widely accessible to all individuals, regardless of education.
   4. Mill argues there is no qualitative difference, only quantitative.
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   B. Higher pleasures are preferred by those who have experienced both, typically involving intellectual and moral faculties. Mill famously argues that 'it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.' He posits that competent judges, those who have experienced both, will prefer pleasures of the intellect, feeling, and imagination over mere sensual gratification.

3. Question 3

   What role does justice play within Mill's utilitarian framework?

   1. Justice is an independent moral principle that sometimes overrides utility.
   2. Justice is a name for certain moral requirements which, regarded collectively, stand higher in the scale of social utility.
   3. Justice is merely a conventional rule with no inherent moral weight.
   4. Justice is a feeling of resentment when one is harmed, not a principle.
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   B. Justice is a name for certain moral requirements which, regarded collectively, stand higher in the scale of social utility. Mill dedicates a significant portion of 'Utilitarianism' to explaining that justice, far from being opposed to utility, is derived from it. He sees it as pertaining to those moral rules which are most vital for human well-being and security, thus having the highest social utility.

4. Question 4

   In his 1868 speech to the British House of Commons, what specific policy did Mill defend using utilitarian arguments?

   1. Universal suffrage for women
   2. Abolition of slavery
   3. The use of capital punishment in cases of aggravated murder
   4. Increased public education funding
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   C. The use of capital punishment in cases of aggravated murder The prompt explicitly states that the expanded edition includes his 1868 speech 'defending the use of capital punishment in cases of aggravated murder.' This speech serves as a practical application of utilitarian principles to social policy.

5. Question 5

   What is the 'proof' Mill offers for the principle of utility?

   1. He proves it through logical deduction from self-evident axioms.
   2. He argues that the only proof that something is desirable is that people actually desire it.
   3. He relies on empirical scientific evidence of human pleasure centers.
   4. He asserts it as an innate moral intuition shared by all.
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   B. He argues that the only proof that something is desirable is that people actually desire it. Mill acknowledges that the ultimate ends are not susceptible of direct proof. He then argues that 'the only proof capable of being given that an object is visible, is that people actually see it. The only proof that a sound is audible, is that people hear it: and so of the other sources of our experience. In like manner, I apprehend, the sole evidence it is possible to produce that anything is desirable, is that people do actually desire it.'

6. Question 6

   Mill addresses the criticism that utilitarianism is a 'doctrine worthy only of swine'. How does he counter this?

   1. By arguing that humans are not swine and thus have different desires.
   2. By introducing the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, emphasizing intellectual and moral enjoyments.
   3. By stating that the critique misunderstands the concept of happiness as solely sensual.
   4. By asserting that even swine seek happiness, validating the principle.
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   B. By introducing the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, emphasizing intellectual and moral enjoyments. This critique is directly addressed by Mill's qualitative distinction of pleasures. He refutes the 'doctrine of swine' argument by explaining that human happiness involves faculties far beyond mere animalistic gratification, encompassing intellectual and moral pleasures.

7. Question 7

   Which of the following best describes Mill's view on self-sacrifice within utilitarianism?

   1. Self-sacrifice is inherently good and should be encouraged as a moral duty.
   2. Self-sacrifice is only valuable if it increases the sum total of happiness, otherwise it is wasted.
   3. Self-sacrifice is a sign of moral weakness and should be avoided.
   4. Self-sacrifice is an act of pure altruism that cannot be judged by utility.
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   B. Self-sacrifice is only valuable if it increases the sum total of happiness, otherwise it is wasted. Mill states that 'the utilitarian morality does recognize in human beings the power of sacrificing their own greatest good for the good of others.' However, he quickly adds that 'a sacrifice which does not increase, or tend to increase, the sum total of happiness, it considers as wasted.' Its value is measured by its contribution to overall happiness.

8. Question 8

   In his defense of capital punishment, what primary utilitarian argument did Mill employ regarding its deterrent effect?

   1. Capital punishment is a more humane option than life imprisonment.
   2. The swiftness of capital punishment provides immediate closure for victims' families.
   3. The perceived terror of capital punishment, though rarely executed, provides a stronger deterrent against aggravated murder than life imprisonment.
   4. It ensures that the murderer cannot commit further crimes, thus maximizing safety.
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   C. The perceived terror of capital punishment, though rarely executed, provides a stronger deterrent against aggravated murder than life imprisonment. Mill argued that the 'terror' of capital punishment, even if it is rarely applied, has a greater deterrent effect on potential murderers than the prospect of life imprisonment. He believed it presented a more formidable warning, thus preventing more harm and promoting greater overall security.

9. Question 9

   What is the role of rules in Mill's utilitarianism, often leading to the 'rule utilitarianism' interpretation?

   1. Rules are absolute moral commands that must never be broken, regardless of consequences.
   2. Rules are useful guidelines derived from past experiences, which generally promote utility, but can be overridden in extreme cases.
   3. Rules are entirely irrelevant; only the consequences of individual acts matter.
   4. Rules are primarily for educating individuals and have no direct bearing on moral action.
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   B. Rules are useful guidelines derived from past experiences, which generally promote utility, but can be overridden in extreme cases. While often debated, many scholars interpret Mill as a rule utilitarian. He emphasizes that 'all moral rules are liable to have exceptions' but that these exceptions should be rare and carefully considered. He sees rules as established principles that, when generally followed, lead to the greatest happiness, rather than requiring calculation for every single act.

10. Question 10

    How does Mill address the objection that utilitarianism is too demanding, requiring constant calculation of consequences for every action?

    1. He admits it is demanding but argues that moral duty often is.
    2. He states that most actions are guided by established moral rules and common sense, which are themselves products of past utilitarian calculations.
    3. He suggests that individuals should only apply utilitarianism to major life decisions.
    4. He dismisses the objection as a misunderstanding of human capacity.
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    B. He states that most actions are guided by established moral rules and common sense, which are themselves products of past utilitarian calculations. Mill argues that 'it is a misapprehension of the utilitarian mode of thought, to conceive it as implying that people should fix their minds upon so wide a generality as the world, or society at large. The great majority of good actions are intended not for the benefit of the world, but for that of individuals, of which the good of the world is made up.' He emphasizes reliance on general rules and common moral understanding, derived from historical experience of utility.