Introduction to Political Philosophy

Utilitarianism and Justice

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another. Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting.

Reading:

• John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism from Mary Warnock (ed.), Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Chapter V, pp. 216-235.

Questions:

1. What, for Mill, is the relationship between justice and equality?
2. What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?
3. What role does the idea of a “sanction” play in our conception of justice?
4. What are the major components that together compose what Mill refers to as the “sentiment of justice”?
5. How does Mill define a person’s “right”?
6. What is Mill’s considered definition of Justice?
7. Why are security and liberty so important for Mill?

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