Essay On John Stuart Mill Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill, in his short work “Utilitarianism,” argues that utilitarian ideals create the most happiness and value for society. In chapter four of the book, Mill argues that the development of positive habits in society is essential to utilitarianism in practice. To support this claim, he distinguishes the concepts of desire and will, stating that morality stems from desire, but that desire fades over time. Will, in Mill’s view, is the driving force in a person over time, and will is susceptible to habit. To make sure that people make choices creating the most social utility after desire fades, Mill argues that habit is a necessary coercive force in society to maximize utility. Mill says that habit is exercised in three ways. The first of these is unconsciously, with habit dictating a person’s choices when he or she might be indifferent and not consciously contemplate his or her actions. The second is consciously in opposition to our preference. In this way, Mill argues, individuals can be coerced by developed habits into making positive social choices that create the most utility, despite a person’s desire to make another choice that doesn’t create the maximum utility. The final way habit is exercised according to Mill is consciously in fulfillment of preference, meaning that both a person’s desire and will (directed by …show more content…
These two differ in that rule utilitarianism argues that morality and ethics are derived from the ruleset of a philosophy, while act utilitarianism argues that the morality of a philosophy stems from the actions that it creates. As such, Mill’s argument for more habits to create social utility is effectively one for act utilitarianism, as it attempts to circumvent a person’s desires to create a more positive action. This is opposed to rule utilitarianism, which would aim more to make a person have more positive

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