Question

1.) State J.S. Mill's "Greatest Happiness Principle." Do you think that our moral actions should consider the good of everyone? 2.) What do you think of the definition of happiness as "pleasure over pain"? Explain. 3.) Think of a time that you utilized Utilitarian reasoning in your everyday life? Please illustrate that here.

Answer 1

1- J.S. Mill's greatest happiness principle- " The actions that lead to happiness and its promotion are right and the actions that do not lead to happiness and promote the reverse of it are wrong.

Of course, our moral actions should consider the good of everyone. This will lead to universal harmony and will cultivate human psyche that thinks of the good to be created and nurtured keeping everyone in mind. The unnecessary actions that cause the intentional and unintentional harm in this world will be reduced to a considerable extent.

2- The definition of happiness as "Pleasure over pain" is an assertion which reveals the intrinsic value. This is essential as a means to an end. This definition also conveys the other side that the the experiences and actions without intrinsic value are indifferent. The pleasure and the pain is not uniform and changes with respect to quality and quantity.

3- While using some medicines/ tablets prescribed by the doctor, i am aware that these medicines before reaching the shelf/ counter in the shop were in the manufacturing plants. They were invented and firstly experimented for verifying their results either on frogs or rats. Many frogs and rats are killed during this process.

But these medicines save the life of infinite people. In order to save the life of such a great number of people, it may be understood and accepted that some frogs and rats may die.

This conveys "Pleasure over pain" and communicates that the action is good treating everyone or the action is right/ good/ just for most/ majority of the creatures. Therefore the action is right and ethical.