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I Agree With The Statement

Mill argues that happiness is the sole criterion for morality because people universally desire their own happiness. He acknowledges that people desire things like virtue, but contends that virtue is only desired because it promotes happiness. Mill further asserts that utilitarianism is proven psychologically by self-reflection revealing that all desires are for things that are part of or promote happiness. The only possible refutation is that morality is separate from desire, but Mill responds that all will originates from prior desires.

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49 views1 page

I Agree With The Statement

Mill argues that happiness is the sole criterion for morality because people universally desire their own happiness. He acknowledges that people desire things like virtue, but contends that virtue is only desired because it promotes happiness. Mill further asserts that utilitarianism is proven psychologically by self-reflection revealing that all desires are for things that are part of or promote happiness. The only possible refutation is that morality is separate from desire, but Mill responds that all will originates from prior desires.

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edwin
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© © All Rights Reserved
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I agree with the statement.

 Mill argues that the only proof that something is desirable is that
people have a desire to it. It is a fact that happiness is a good, because all people desire their own
happiness. Thus, it can be clear is at least one end, and one criterion, of morality. in order to
show that happiness is the sole criterion for morality, it is necessary to show that people never
desire anything but happiness. Mill says that people do desire things like virtue, which in
common language is distinguished from happiness. However, Mill states that people love virtue
only because it constitutes a part of happiness. Mill argues that happiness is not an abstract idea,
but a whole with component parts. Because virtue is a part of happiness, and promotes the
general happiness, utilitarianism encourages the development of virtue. Anything that is desired
beyond being a means to happiness is desired because it is part of happiness. Thus, Mill explains
that proving utilitarianism is a psychological question. The real issue is whether it is true that
people only desire things that are part of happiness or a means to happiness. This can only be
answered by self-reflection and observation of others. Mill contends that utilitarianism is true,
and that impartial reflection will show that desiring something is the same thing as thinking it
pleasant. He argues that this is so obvious that he doubts it could be disputed. The only possible
refutation that could legitimately be made is that the moral will is something different than
physical or emotional desire; virtuous people carry out actions without thought of such pleasures.
Mill admits that will is different than desire, and often becomes an end in itself. However, all
will originates in desire; if we will a thing that we now no longer desire, it is only by force of
habit.

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