In reading chapters three and four of John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism, I noticed two conclusions made by Mills that are up for debate. The first statement is made in chapter 3, is that as we as a society become more unified and equal, utilitarianism as it is defined can be the influential factor in our decision making.
The second conclusion that jumped out to me was in chapter four, and is simplified by saying that a person thinks something is generally pleasant if it is desirable.
The first conclusion that I pointed out, found in chapter 3, depends all on how the term utilitarianism is defined. From this class, I now know that utilitarianism is thought of as making moral choices depending on the consequences or outcomes of the situation, …show more content…
Distinguishing oneself from the rest of society is commonplace in society today, therefore the assumption can be made that
1
decisions are being made with oneself as the focus point more often than ever.
Even if the concept of utilitarianism is grown and nurtured such as Mill suggests, the concept will not be the driving force of all decision making in our society.
The majority of chapter four is based around the concept that if something is found desirable, it must be considered pleasant for that particular person. Though most examples find this statement to be true, such as if you desire your favorite food, you find the taste of said food pleasant. Or on a deeper level, if you desire friendship, you find the time you spend with your friends pleasant as well. This is not always the case. Acts such as changing the diaper of your baby, or pulling weeds or cleaning up after your dogs are not pleasant tasks, but you desire to take care of your offspring, or desire to have a good looking yard. Later on in the chapter, Mill suggests that things done that are not directly leading to a pleasant ending are part of the process of happiness, or an overall pleasant ending. I
The second conclusion that jumped out to me was in chapter four, and is simplified by saying that a person thinks something is generally pleasant if it is desirable.
The first conclusion that I pointed out, found in chapter 3, depends all on how the term utilitarianism is defined. From this class, I now know that utilitarianism is thought of as making moral choices depending on the consequences or outcomes of the situation, …show more content…
Distinguishing oneself from the rest of society is commonplace in society today, therefore the assumption can be made that
1
decisions are being made with oneself as the focus point more often than ever.
Even if the concept of utilitarianism is grown and nurtured such as Mill suggests, the concept will not be the driving force of all decision making in our society.
The majority of chapter four is based around the concept that if something is found desirable, it must be considered pleasant for that particular person. Though most examples find this statement to be true, such as if you desire your favorite food, you find the taste of said food pleasant. Or on a deeper level, if you desire friendship, you find the time you spend with your friends pleasant as well. This is not always the case. Acts such as changing the diaper of your baby, or pulling weeds or cleaning up after your dogs are not pleasant tasks, but you desire to take care of your offspring, or desire to have a good looking yard. Later on in the chapter, Mill suggests that things done that are not directly leading to a pleasant ending are part of the process of happiness, or an overall pleasant ending. I