UTILITARIANISM

THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER
JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
JEREMY BENTHAM argued that our actions are governed by London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

two “sovereign masters” –which he calls pleasure and pain. father of John Stuart Mill.
Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness

These “masters” are given to us by nature to help us principle of ethics and was
known for a system of penal

determine what is good or bad and what ought to be done

management called
panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic
and not; they fasten our choices to their throne. freedom, women’s rights,
and the separation od
church and state, among
The principle of utility is about our subjection to these others. He was also an
advocate of animal rights

sovereign masters: pleasure and pain. and the abolition of slavery,

death penalty, and corporal
punishment for children.

The principle refers to the motivation of our actions as Bentham denied individual
legal rights nor agreed with

guided by our avoidance of pain and our desire for

the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
pleasure. to the University College of
London.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
It is like saying that in our everyday actions, we do what London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

is pleasurable and we do not do what is painful. father of John Stuart Mill.

Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness

The principle also refer to the pleasure as good, if and principle of ethics and was
known for a system of penal

only if, they produce more happiness than unhappiness.

management called
panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic
This means that it is not enough to experience pleasure, freedom, women’s rights,
and the separation od

but also inquire whether the things we do make us church and state, among
others. He was also an

happier. advocate of animal rights

and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal

Having identified the tendency for pleasure and the punishment for children.
Bentham denied individual
legal rights nor agreed with
avoidance of pain as the principle of utility, Bentham the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
equates happiness with pleasure. Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Mills supports Bentham’s principle. He reiterates moral JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
good as happiness and, consequently, happiness is pleasure. Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and

Mill clarifies that what makes people happy is intended

disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
pleasure and what makes us unhappy is the privation of studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age
pleasure. The things that produce happiness and pleasure eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the

are good; whereas, those that produce unhappiness and pain age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor

are bad. after twenty-one years of

friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of

Mill argues that we act and do things because we find them utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
pleasurable and we avoid doing things because they are died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
painful. erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Bentham and Mill characterized moral value as utility and JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
understood it as whatever produced happiness or pleasure Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of

and the avoidance of pain. James Mill, a friend and

disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

 The pursuit for pleasure and the avoidance of pain are not was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of

only important principle in assessing an action’s morality. three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the

Principle of Utility is to increase happiness and decrease age of twenty. He was

married to Harriet Taylor

pain.
after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of

Principle of Utility must distinguish pleasures qualitatively utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
and not merely quantitatively. died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Felicific Calculus is a common currency framework that JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
calculates the pleasure that some actions can produce. Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy
…in this framework, an action can be evaluated on the Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
basis of intensity or strength of pleasure ; duration or studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age

length of the experience of pleasure; certainty, eleven, and suffered a

nervous breakdown at the

uncertainty, or the likelihood that pleasure will occur; and

age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
propinquity, remoteness, or how soon there will be friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of

pleasure. These indicators allow us to measure pleasure utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled

and pain in an action. Utilitarianism (1861). Mill

died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
Two dimensions to evaluate our tendency to choose our London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

actions. father of John Stuart Mill.

Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness

Fecundity principle of ethics and was

known for a system of penal
management called

Purity panopticon. He was an

advocate of economic
freedom, women’s rights,

Fecundity is the chance it has of being followed by and the separation od

church and state, among
others. He was also an
sensations of the same kind. advocate of animal rights
and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal
Purity is the chance it has of not being followed by punishment for children.
Bentham denied individual
sensations of the opposite kind. legal rights nor agreed with
the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Extent a dimension on considering the number of persons JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
who are affected by pleasure or pain. Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy
Pleasure and pain can only quantitatively differ but not Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
qualitatively differ from other experience of pleasure and studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age

pain accordingly. eleven, and suffered a

nervous breakdown at the
age of twenty. He was

There are two kinds of pleasure: married to Harriet Taylor

after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical

Higher Pleasure theory and his defense of

utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled

Lower Pleasure Utilitarianism (1861). Mill

died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Two kinds of pleasure: JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United

Intellectual Pleasure Kingdom. He was the son of

James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy

those pleasures that require some minimum of cognitive Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of
capacities to enjoy. three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
these are higher pleasures age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
Mill states that once a human being is made aware of friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of

their higher pleasures, they would never be happy to leave utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled

a life of higher pleasures for a life of lower pleasures Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Two kinds of pleasure: JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United

Intellectual Pleasure Kingdom. He was the son of

James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy

higher pleasures are more valuable and desirable than Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of
lower pleasures three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
depend on distinctively human capacities, which have a age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor

more complex cognitive element, requiring abilities such after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical

as rational thought, self-awareness or language use. theory and his defense of

utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

Bestial Pleasure JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United

these are lower or sensual pleasure Kingdom. He was the son of

James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy

appropriate for animals Bentham. John Stuart Mill

was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

There is no other way of determining which of the two was home-schooled. He

studied Greek at the age of

pleasures is preferable except by appealing to the actual three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
preferences and experiences. age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 UTILITARIANISM
THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER
JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
 THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

Equating happiness with pleasure does not aim to father of John Stuart Mill.
Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness
describe the utilitarian moral agent alone and principle of ethics and was
known for a system of penal

independently from others. This is not only about

management called
panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic

our individual pleasures, regardless of how high, freedom, women’s rights,

and the separation od
church and state, among
intellectual, or in other ways noble it is, but it is others. He was also an
advocate of animal rights

also about the pleasure of the greatest number and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal
punishment for children.

affected by the consequences of our actions. Bentham denied individual

legal rights nor agreed with
the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER

Utilitarianism cannot lead to selfish acts. It is neither JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
about our pleasure nor happiness alone; it cannot be all Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
about us. disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill
was home-schooled. He
Utilitarianism is not dismissive of sacrifices that procure studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age

more happiness for others. eleven, and suffered a

nervous breakdown at the
age of twenty. He was

It is necessary to consider everyone’s happiness, including married to Harriet Taylor

after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
our own, as the standard by which to evaluate what is theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
moral. in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Utilitarianism is interested with everyone’s happiness: the Avigon,
erysipelas.
France from

greatest happiness of the greatest number.

UTILITARIANISM
THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER
JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
Mill says: London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,
father of John Stuart Mill.
Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness
principle of ethics and was
Justice is a respect for rights directed toward society’s known for a system of penal
management called

pursuit for the greatest happiness of the greatest number. panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic
freedom, women’s rights,
and the separation od
church and state, among
others. He was also an

Rights are a valid claim on society and are justified by advocate of animal rights
and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal
utility. punishment for children.
Bentham denied individual
legal rights nor agreed with
the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
Rights are related to the interests that serve general London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

happiness. father of John Stuart Mill.

Bentham first wrote about
the greatest happiness

A society is made happier if its citizens are able to live principle of ethics and was
known for a system of penal

their lives knowing that their interests are protected and

management called
panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic
that society (as a whole) defends it. freedom, women’s rights,
and the separation od
church and state, among
Animals have rights because of the effect of such others. He was also an
advocate of animal rights

principle on sum total of happiness that follows as a and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal

consequence of instituting and protecting their interests.

punishment for children.
Bentham denied individual
legal rights nor agreed with

Utilitarians are the staunchest defenders of animal rights. the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS

A right is justifiable on utilitarian principles inasmuch as JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
they produce an overall happiness that is greater than the Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of

unhappiness resulting from their implementation. James Mill, a friend and

disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

Utilitarians argue that issues of justice carry a very strong was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of

emotional import because the category of rights is directly

three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
associated with the individual’s most vital interests. age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
Mill associates utilitarianism with the possession of legal friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of

and moral rights. utilitarian views are found

in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS

We are treated justly if our legal and moral rights are JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
respected. Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
Legal rights are neither inviolable nor natural, but rights disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

are subject some exceptions: was home-schooled. He

studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age
…It is mostly considered unjust to deprive any one of his personal eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
liberty, his property, or any other thing which belongs to him by law. age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
Here, therefore, is one instance of the application of terms just and after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
unjust in a perfectly definite sense, namely, that it is just to theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
respect, unjust to violate, the legal rights of anyone. But this in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
judgement admits of several exceptions, arising from the other forms died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
in which the notions of justice and injustice present themselves. erysipelas.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS

We are treated justly if our legal and moral rights are JOHN MILL STUART was
born on May 20, 1806 in
respected. Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
Legal rights are neither inviolable nor natural, but rights disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

are subject some exceptions: was home-schooled. He

studied Greek at the age of
three and Latin at the age
…It is mostly considered unjust to deprive any one of his personal eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
liberty, his property, or any other thing which belongs to him by law. age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
Here, therefore, is one instance of the application of terms just and after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
unjust in a perfectly definite sense, namely, that it is just to theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
respect, unjust to violate, the legal rights of anyone. But this in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
judgement admits of several exceptions, arising from the other forms died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
in which the notions of justice and injustice present themselves. erysipelas.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS
JEREMY BENTHAM was born
on February 15, 1748 in
When legal rights are not morally justified in accordance London, England. He was
the teacher of James Mill,

to the greatest happiness principle, then these rights need father of John Stuart Mill.
Bentham first wrote about

neither be observed, nor respected.

the greatest happiness
principle of ethics and was
known for a system of penal

Mill suggests that it is morally permissible to not follow,

management called
panopticon. He was an
advocate of economic
even violate, an unjust law. freedom, women’s rights,
and the separation od
church and state, among
Mill thinks that it is commendable to endure legal others. He was also an
advocate of animal rights

punishments for acts of civil disobedience for the sake of and the abolition of slavery,
death penalty, and corporal

promoting a higher moral good.

punishment for children.
Bentham denied individual
legal rights nor agreed with
the natural law. On his
death on June 6, 1832,
Bentham donated his corpse
to the University College of
London.
 JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS

Moral rights JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
If violating legal rights can be justifiable, then it is considered as an Kingdom. He was the son of

act of injustice to violate an individual’s moral rights.

James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill
Some moral rights can be overridden for the sake of the greater was home-schooled. He
studied Greek at the age of
general happiness. three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
Moral rights are only justifiable by considerations of greater overall age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
happiness. after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of
Mill’s moral rights and considerations of justice are not absolute, utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
but are only justified by their consequences to promote the greatest Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
good of the greatest number. Avigon, France from
erysipelas.
JUSTICE AND MORAL RIGHTS

JOHN MILL STUART was

born on May 20, 1806 in
Pentonville, London, United
Kingdom. He was the son of
James Mill, a friend and
disciple of Jeremy
Bentham. John Stuart Mill

Justice can be interpreted in terms of moral rights was home-schooled. He

studied Greek at the age of

because justice promotes the greater social good.

three and Latin at the age
eleven, and suffered a
nervous breakdown at the
age of twenty. He was
married to Harriet Taylor
after twenty-one years of
friendship. His ethical
theory and his defense of
utilitarian views are found
in his long essay entitled
Utilitarianism (1861). Mill
died on May 8, 1873 in
Avigon, France from
erysipelas.