Questions and Answers
What are the main aims of Chapter 2?
How does Mill begin the chapter?
He addresses critics who misunderstand the use of the word pleasure.
How does Mill define the creed of the Greatest Happiness principle?
Actions are right as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
Why is the word 'tend' important in Mill's quote?
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What is a problem with Mill only referring to consequence?
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How does Mill respond to Carlyle's objection that utilitarianism is a 'doctrine worthy only of swine'?
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Who supports Mill's idea that humans want pleasure of quality as well as quantity?
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How does Nozick counter Mill's ideas on higher and lower pleasures?
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How does Warnock counter Mill's ideas on higher and lower pleasures?
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What does Mill mean by 'competent judges'?
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What quote separates man from animal, disproving the 'swine philosophy'?
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Study Notes
Chapter Aims
- Addresses criticisms of utilitarianism.
- Defends the philosophy against the label of "swine philosophy" by emphasizing "higher pleasures."
- Introduces the concept of competent judges to discern higher pleasures.
- Defines happiness as a collective experience, not just individual satisfaction.
- Explains that secondary principles make utilitarianism practical.
Opening Argument
- Begins by confronting misunderstandings of the term pleasure in utilitarianism.
- Clarifies that utilitarianism encompasses both pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
Greatest Happiness Principle
- Defines the creed: "Actions are right as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."
Importance of "Tend"
- The word "tend" implies a rule-based approach to utilitarianism, suggesting broader principles rather than mere calculations of outcomes.
Critique of Consequentialism
- Points out a limitation in focusing solely on consequences by neglecting the motivations behind actions.
Response to Carlyle's Objection
- Responds to the critique of utilitarianism as a lowly doctrine by asserting the existence of higher faculties in humans.
- Introduces the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, highlighting that not all pleasures are equal.
Support for Quality of Pleasure
- Cites Crisp's example of Haydn and the oyster to illustrate the preference for quality over mere quantity in pleasures.
- Argues that while different species experience pleasure differently, humans inherently seek higher pleasures.
Nozick's Counterargument
- Discusses Nozick's experience machine argument, which claims humans desire authentic experiences over mere pleasure.
- Mill counters that the pursuit of collective happiness cannot occur in an isolated pleasure machine, linking virtue to true happiness.
Warnock's Counterargument
- Critiques the inherent value of higher pleasures, suggesting they are just societal recommendations.
- Mill's refutation lies in the role of secondary principles and the general happiness principle guiding actions toward higher pleasures.
Definition of Competent Judges
- Competent judges are those who have experienced both pleasures in question, allowing them to make informed judgments about desirability.
Key Distinction Quote
- “It is better to be a human satisfied than a pig satisfied,” emphasizing that human discontent can yield greater utility due to the capacity for higher pleasures.
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Description
This quiz explores key concepts in utilitarianism, addressing criticisms, and emphasizing the importance of happiness as a communal experience. It also introduces the idea of competent judges and critiques consequentialism to clarify common misunderstandings of the philosophy. Test your understanding of these essential ideas and principles!
