John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism, Ethics, and Liberty

John Stuart Mill was a key exponent of utilitarianism, building upon the ideas of thinkers like David Hume.

Key Features of Mill's Utilitarianism

• An action is considered good if it promotes collective happiness.
• Mill critiqued monarchies, arguing they don't necessarily lead to collective happiness.
• He also criticized the criminal justice system, deeming it often unfair.
• Mill posited that humans naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain, leading to a 'calculus of pleasures.'
• Politically, Mill believed that collective happiness is the sum of individual happiness. If everyone strives for their own happiness, society as a whole will be happy.

Mill's Ethical Framework

• Happiness is universally recognized as the ultimate ethical goal.
• Happiness equates to pleasure, but there are different types of pleasure.
• The best pleasures are those that allow humans to develop to their maximum potential. A human who is satisfied is of more value than a pig who is merely content.
• The goal of ethics is overall happiness, not just the sum of individual happiness. Individuals are social beings and seek connection with others. Happiness can and should occur within society.

Mill's Political Philosophy

• The top priority of politics should be achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of individuals, while ensuring individual freedom.
• The best form of government is a representative democracy, with representation for minorities and guarantees of their rights. The state should implement measures to ensure collective happiness.

Limits and Scope of Freedom

Mill defined freedom in two phases:

1. Liberty: Freedom from external control.
2. The opportunity to develop fully.

The limits of freedom are defined by the innate character of the people. We are born with freedom, but what we do with it shapes our lives.

On Liberty

• Limits of Freedom: Issues that only affect the individual should be decided by the individual. Issues that affect society should be addressed by society.
• Mill accepted the social contract, arguing that society predates individuals.
• Society should not rely solely on sanctions but also on persuasion.
• The type of sanction should depend on the issue. Actions that only affect the individual should face social disapproval, while actions that affect society should face punishment.
• Reflection is needed on what is truly individual versus collective.

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is based on an innate social tendency to care about others and their happiness, striving for a common goal of collective happiness. This vision stems from a utopian socialist perspective.

Mill argued that utilitarianism should address the same questions as other ethical theories. For example, while lying is generally considered wrong because it has been instilled as a value, helping others may sometimes override this. Mill believed that values exist on different levels.