John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Greatest Happiness

Introduction

John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism is a philosophical treatise on morality and justice. Utilitarianism is an honorable approach that states that the best course of action is the one that maximizes utility, which is depicted as the greatest happiness for the most significant number of individuals. Mill claims that all people should pursue the greatest joy for the most considerable number of people, which should be the basis of morality.

Utility

The philosopher begins by discussing the concept of utility, which is represented as pleasure and the absence of pain. He argues that satisfaction is the only inherent good and despair is the only intrinsic bad. He argues that all other goods, such as wealth and reputation, are only desirable because they result in pleasure or the absence of pain. Mill then argues that the singular method for specifying an action’s values is to assess its outcomes on the joy of the most influential number of people. He remarks that actions should be reckoned based on their impacts on the majority’s satisfaction and that any activity that results in the greatest overall happiness should be considered the most moral action.

Higher and Lower Pleasures

The thinker then introduces the concept of higher and lower pleasures. He contends that higher pleasures, such as intellectual objectives, are more intellectual than lower delights, such as physical ones. He asserts that a person should pursue higher pleasures as they are more likely to result in longer-lasting and more fulfilling ones. He likewise pleads that one should strive to increase the total pleasure in the world and that pursuing higher pleasures is the best way to do this.

Justice

Finally, John Stuart Mill argues that justice is a form of utilitarianism and should be based on practical principles. He argues that justice should be based on the principle of equality and that laws should be designed to guarantee everyone’s equal opportunity to pursue happiness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism is a philosophical treatise on principles and justice. Mill claimed that the most acceptable motion is the one that achieves the highest benefit, represented as the most overall happiness for the greatest number of people. He also asserted that higher enjoyments, such as intellectual pursuits, are more alluring than inferior ones and that fairness should be based on equality.

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StudyCorgi. (2025) 'John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Greatest Happiness'. 10 December.

1. StudyCorgi. "John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Greatest Happiness." December 10, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/john-stuart-mills-utilitarianism-and-the-pursuit-of-greatest-happiness/.


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StudyCorgi. "John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Greatest Happiness." December 10, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/john-stuart-mills-utilitarianism-and-the-pursuit-of-greatest-happiness/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2025. "John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and the Pursuit of Greatest Happiness." December 10, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/john-stuart-mills-utilitarianism-and-the-pursuit-of-greatest-happiness/.

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