Utilitarianism is a theory produced by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. “Utilitarianism affirms the principle that the right action is the one that directly produces the best balance of happiness over unhappiness for all concerned” (Beginning Ethics). Bentham defined happiness is to be anything that causes pleasure and unhappiness is to be anything that causes pain. Bentham’s theory on utilitarianism is highly influential; John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher and economist, later developed Bentham’s moral theories on utilitarianism farther. Mill formed his ideas based off of Bentham’s theory. Bentham called the utilitarianism principle the principle of utility, and believed that ones actions can be judged by it. However, Mill called
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Intellectual pleasures such as learning last longer because they can connect with previously stored pleasures in our memory, multiply, and diversify and re-create new sensations. Intellectual pleasures create sensations that our outer senses cannot store or multiply. Since we achieve physical pleasures through our outer senses, and our outer senses cannot store and multiply sensations it is impossible to revisit a pleasure at a different moment. The joy of discovery lasts forever, where as physical pleasure only last in the moment. A person only enjoys eating food at the time they are eating it. After the food is gone they may be able to reminisce but will not be able to continually experiencing that pleasure. Intellectual pleasures are better because one is able to experience them for a greater amount of time. Intellectual pleasures are also a higher quality than physical pleasures. According to Mill, intellectual pleasures are of greater quality than physical pleasures, and that is another supporting reason as to why they are of higher value. A person who has experienced both types of pleasures always chooses intellectual pleasures over physical pleasures because it brings a stronger happiness. According to Utilitarianism, “whichever pleasure brings the most happiness is considered the greatest pleasure”. Intellectual pleasures bring a person a greater amount of happiness because intellectual pleasures are
Intellectual pleasures such as learning last longer because they can connect with previously stored pleasures in our memory, multiply, and diversify and re-create new sensations. Intellectual pleasures create sensations that our outer senses cannot store or multiply. Since we achieve physical pleasures through our outer senses, and our outer senses cannot store and multiply sensations it is impossible to revisit a pleasure at a different moment. The joy of discovery lasts forever, where as physical pleasure only last in the moment. A person only enjoys eating food at the time they are eating it. After the food is gone they may be able to reminisce but will not be able to continually experiencing that pleasure. Intellectual pleasures are better because one is able to experience them for a greater amount of time. Intellectual pleasures are also a higher quality than physical pleasures. According to Mill, intellectual pleasures are of greater quality than physical pleasures, and that is another supporting reason as to why they are of higher value. A person who has experienced both types of pleasures always chooses intellectual pleasures over physical pleasures because it brings a stronger happiness. According to Utilitarianism, “whichever pleasure brings the most happiness is considered the greatest pleasure”. Intellectual pleasures bring a person a greater amount of happiness because intellectual pleasures are