Utilitarianism

Critics of utilitarianism contend that virtue is separate from utility or happiness. How does Mill respond to these critics? Does the idea of virtue contradict Mill’s Utility Principle?

Why does Mill believe it is impossible to provide direct proof for the Utility Principle? What is the proof that Mill does provide in Chapter 4 of “Utilitarianism”? How would you critique Mill’s proof?

Choose a moral dilemma from your own life and apply Mill’s Utility Principle to the situation. How would a utilitarian behave and do you believe that this is the moral way to behave? Why or why not?

In Chapter 3, Mill suggests that if utilitarianism were to be taught in the same way religion is taught, then all members of a society would naturally follow utilitarian principles. What might an education in utilitarianism look like?

Mill writes that a common criticism of utilitarianism is that it is “a godless doctrine” and its detractors claim that it seeks to replace religious moral codes. Is utilitarianism compatible with religious conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Though “Utilitarianism” is meant to be an explanation of Mill’s moral philosophy, the essay is structured so that Mill primarily describes the philosophy through responding to critiques, rather than outright defining it. Why does Mill structure his essay in this way? How does this form of argument help him to define the principles of utilitarianism?

In Chapter 5, Mill discusses the difference between justice and utility and suggests that a consideration of utility can help determine the moral action one should take in situations when a consideration justice fails. Is utility or justice a more useful concept for determining moral behavior? Use concrete examples as evidence for your argument.

In what way is the concept of justice related to the law, according to Mill’s discussion in Chapter 5? Is the American conception of justice limited to legal rights, or does it extend beyond existing legal codes?