Blanche Stuart Scott

John Stuart Mill and Friedrich Nietzsche both analyzed the outlooks fostered by the ancients, Christianity and modern morality in regard to the qualities of character that each group developed. The two men held similar views regarding the Christians and modern morality believing that each was creating a herd like mentality where individualism was being suppressed. The two interestingly differed on their view of the ancients, where Nietzsche disagreed with their rationality, Mill praised their…

that the moral action is the one that maximizes utility. Utility can be defined in various ways, such as pleasure, financial security and lack of suffering3. The two predominate figure heads of utilitarianism are Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mills (1806-1873). Bentham argued that ethics should seek to maximize pleasure and minimize suffering for the most people. Bentham believed the moral sense of an act could be deciphered based upon the answer to a simple question. Did the deed…

As an ethical theory, Utilitarianism was first developed by British philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill who “identified the good with pleasure” and believed that within society “that we ought to maximize the good, that is, bring about 'the greatest amount of good for the greatest number '” (Driver 2). A core assumption of Phillips ' argument is…

John Stuart Mill—a philosopher whom believed that another name for utility is the greatest form of happiness, a principal lead by the clause “Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness are intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure”. With this, Mill presents the concept of utility as a stem from the presence of pleasure and the absence of pain within…

Being a Utilitarian evaluates consequences and the choices that situations bring upon someone to determine whether they are right or wrong. While taking this into consideration the action on the overall happiness of society is important. John Stuart Mill believes in utilitarianism, for example he does not believe ones sole happiness is more important than all those who are concerned. As some may know Mill favors inductive reasoning for being systematic. Mill comes to the conclusion that no…

Throughout history, one fact has always stood true: only the strongest endure. When faced with danger, some choose to take flight, to turn and to run. Others rise and fight; they adapt, they do not waver and most importantly, they survive. However, the actions one must take in order to ensure survival may raise questions of morality. In regards to the principle of utility, the life of pi, demonstrates a belief that when faced with controversy, it is morally justified to do what one must do in…

Mill focuses on the concept of a clear distinction between when the authority of society can limit individuality and when there can be “sovereignty of the individual over himself”; however, he also argues the point that control should be given whenever society and the individual have an interest in a particular part of human life (82). Mill rejects the notion of a social contract, which Locke argues for, but due to the protections provided by society, the citizens owe a return for these benefits…

In his essay, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”, Peter Singer begins with the assumption that famine should be eradicated, based upon the generally wide held principle that the suffering created by lack of food is bad. He then sets up the general basis for his argument which is: “if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (Singer 231). From this general idea, Singer outlines the…

Using Andrew Bailey’s First Philosophy: Second Edition I will further explain my points on both utilitarianism and deontology, and explain why I believe Immanuel Kant’s theory of deontology is flawed using the trolley problem. I will argue that John Stuart Mill’s theory of utilitarianism is a more appropriate approach to moral dilemmas, as making calculated decisions in consequentialism results in better outcomes for society. The…

social influences like Simone De Seaviour did not make that fight any easier. She believed women that women were the second sex. She also believed that it would take a lot of work to have women be independent from men. While social influences like John Stuart Mills and Virginia Woolf believed any woman could be independent and as equal as men are. They believed it would be great for women and for the society. The view that Mill’s and Woolf’s had on women’s role in society was slightly different…