Introduction to Political Philosophy

Utilitarianism

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:

• Jeremy Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation from Mary Warnock (ed.), Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Chapters I and IV, pp. 17-22, 41-43.
• John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism from Mary Warnock (ed.), Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Chapter II (Paragraphs 1-10, 18-19, 23-25), pp. 185-190, 194-196, 199-202.

Questions:

1. How would you describe Bentham’s view of pleasure? How would you describe the “calculus” of pleasures that he lays out? Why is Bentham concerned with pleasure, i.e., what role is it supposed to play in his moral theory?
2. What are the pieces that together make up what Mill calls Utilitarianism? For example, how does he define the “principle of utility?” What other important concepts does he need to define in order to give the principle normative content and to defend it against competitors?
3. Mill claims that pleasures can be distinguished by quality as well as quantity. He then gives a test by which pleasures can be separated into higher and lower kinds. How does the test work? Why should we think that this is a reliable test?
4. Mill also claims that it is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. How does he defend this claim in light of his utilitarianism?
5. What is a “sense of dignity” and what role does it play in Mill’s argument?
6. How does Mill define the scope of morality, i.e., who has moral status and therefore “counts” from the moral point of view?
7. What role does “strict impartiality” play in Mill’s utilitarianism?
8. What recommendations does Mill’s theory make for structuring political and social institutions?
9. In the final analysis, what is Mill’s general happiness principle supposed to evaluate? Particular actions or rules for guiding particular actions?

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