Mill's Utilitarian Arguments

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This is a utilitarian argument because the argument towards Ashley’s treatment was based on trying to prevent the most amount of discomfort (pain), and maximizing her lifetime happiness and comfort (pleasure). This is the hedonistic way of the utilitarian belief. They employed questions from the hedonistic calculus. For example, how bad the levels of discomfort will get (intensity), how long Ashley would have to live with such discomfort (duration), how it would affect the family (extent) are issues that the hedonistic calculus addresses.
I do believe Bentham would agree with this. Bentham described the philosophy of “By utility is meant that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness” (Rosenstand, pg. 264). The “Ashley Treatment” was created to increase the benefit and happiness so Ashley can live her life more comfortably. Thus, this was a procedure that would appeal to his sensibilities. He also states in his tenth principle that if there is a course of action that that can be done that would …show more content…
Mill discusses how dignity separates us from animals, and that all humans have some form of dignity (Rosenstand, pg. 266). This statement could mean that Mill would support the argument that Ashley’s treatment is a violation of her dignity, and would disapprove. However, he also talks about how those who have low expectations for happiness will have a greater chance of being fulfilled (Rosenstand, pg 266). Thus, Mill may believe that Ashley would be better having the few sure efforts towards her happiness was fulfilled. As Mill speaks about the great pleasures and displeasures of life, he speaks about the general causes of human suffering. Mill believes that all misfortunes that human beings suffer from can be fixed by people putting in the effort and the care to solve them (Rosenstand, pg.

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