Pleasure

means to reach an end and how that end results in pleasure. Mill explains the importance and advantages of utilitarianism while also responding to misunderstandings about it. He believes in the greatest happiness principle and that if a society benefits from the impairment or disappointment of another because of a lack in obtaining a higher faculty, then this is okay because it is hedonic, in that it maximizes pleasure. Mill believes that pleasure drives human actions and that everyone has the…

Pleasure can often times be the driving motive for the actions of an individual seeking a good, successful experience of life. Though it is not always as simple as making the choice that will bring you immediate joy; one must weigh out the different choices that they make and how these choices affect their paths towards their future. Sometimes, this can mean giving up one pleasure for another that you may find more rewarding and meaningful to you. Making these difficult decisions can torture and…

Mill’s Utilitarianism, he explains that the amount of pleasure and pain is what dictates the morality of actions. An action is justified if it brings more overall pleasure than pain to people. While it is generally agreed upon that pleasure is good and pain is bad, I believe that these qualities by itself cannot determine morality. Utilitarianism is not the right ethical theory to follow because utility is not inherently measurable and pleasure and pain are not the only determinants of morality.…

In class we discussed whether or not it is a bad thing to die, if we are not immortal. This discussion was based on Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things, we Lucretius would debate that it is indeed not a bad thing to die. One half of the class argued that he is correct, and the other half argued that he was incorrect.In this discussion there were two rounds, the first one allowed both teams to state points for their argument, and then the second allowed each team to rebuttal against the opposing…

interpreting utility as in opposition to pleasure. In reality, a utility is defined as pleasure itself, and the absence of pain. Thus another name for utility is the Greatest Happiness Principle. This principle holds that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure." Pleasure and the absence of pain are,…

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…

” (484) He then begins to explain that happiness is the absence of pain, and pain is the absence of pleasure. He refers to utilitarianism as the Greatest Happiness Principle. Many people that disagreed with Mill’s definition of utilitarianism insulted his work by stating it as a “doctrine worthy only of swine,” (Mill 485). Mill responds to this attack by stating “...for if the sources of pleasure were precisely the same to human beings and to swine, the rule of which is good enough for the one…

produce the reverse of happiness” (Mill). His argument under this principle was that the equality of pleasure comes from an individual’s higher faculties. Thus, through happiness one is able to express higher faculties. The end of his argument ends with things that people should count towards their happiness. In addition, Mills also seeks to explain the stratifications of the different types of pleasure. I believe that we should embrace utilitarianism as a moral theory and furthermore as an…

Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. 480-90. As discussed during lectures a hedonist believes that all human actions are to produce pleasure or happiness. Feinberg uses the paradox of hedonism to make a point, which simply is that pursuing only happiness or pleasure does not ultimately result in pleasure or happiness. However, the only way to gain pleasure or happiness is to act without the expectation of happiness. Feinberg uses the paradox of hedonism to strengthen his argument…

ultimate happiness and pleasure. Contrary to Bentham, the proponent of the classical utilitarianism, who believes that all sources of pleasure are equal in value, Mill asserts that the quality of pleasure is a major factor in deciding what would be the best course of actions. Mill differentiates various types of pleasure inherent to the humankind, identifying physical satisfaction from fulfilling vital needs, aesthetic enjoyment of the surrounding beauty, and intellectual pleasures or sense of…