Utilitarianism | Study Guide

John Stuart Mill

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

Standard of Happiness Maximizing happiness for the whole of society should be everyone’s standard of morality. In his seminal philosophical text, Mill argues that utility is the basic principle for creating a moral system. Utilitarian actions are those that create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. For Mill, happiness is equivalent to pleasure. Humans enjoy base pleasures as well as higher, intellectual pleasures. Happiness for the Masses MAIN IDEAS Obligation of Justice Implementing justice is an important part of upholding general happiness for individuals and societies. Guiding Moral Philosophy One cannot decide right and wrong actions without a guiding moral philosophy. Sources: Autobiography by John Stuart Mill and John M. Robson, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Copyright © 2018 Course Hero, Inc. Context Victorian Morals Mill challenged traditional Victorian morality through his philosophical, political, and economic views. Empiricism Mill based his philosophy on scientific observation of individuals and society. Liberalism Influenced by liberal thought, Mill argued for “perfect equality” and supported women’s rights. Understanding Mill Naturalism As a naturalist, Mill believed that the human mind—and thus human experiences of pleasure and pain—is completely a part of nature. Associationism Mill adhered to a theory that all human thoughts and behaviors are products of constant associations people make between sensory input, feelings, and ideas. Philosophical Predecessors Epicurus Ancient Greek philosopher; argued that the best life is one free from distress Jeremy Bentham Leading philosopher of utilitarianism; Mill’s teacher Immanuel Kant 18th-century philosopher; opposed to a standard of morality based on happiness appiness is a good: that each person’s happiness is a good to that person, and the general happiness, therefore, a good to the aggregate of all persons. John Stuart Mill, Chapter 4 Utilitarianismby the Numbers Age at which Mill started to learn Latin, geometry, and algebra Holidays Mill’s father let him take from studying when he was a child Age at which Mill had a mental health crisis brought on by exhaustion and self-doubt Years Mill carried on an affair with philosopher Harriet Taylor before her husband’s death freed her to marry Mill 21 8 icon 0 20 Mill was a 19th-century English philosopher and statesman. He tackled numerous philosophical problems, including questions of liberal rights, moral philosophy, and political economy. Regarded as the father of modern liberalism, Mill’s works have remained in continuous publication since their release. JOHN STUART MILL1806–73 Author English Original Language 1861 Year Published John Stuart Mill Author Utilitarianism Philosophy Nonfiction
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