Explore John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian philosophy in detail: the role of competent judges in distinguishing higher and lower pleasures, the problem of total vs. average utility, and how secondary principles guide moral choices when calculations fail. Learn Mill’s proof of the greatest happiness principle, the debate over “desirable,” and how his ideas shaped modern ethics, justice, and distributive fairness.
Explore John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian philosophy in detail: the role of competent judges in distinguishing higher and lower pleasures, the problem of...
What are the general concerns regarding interpersonal comparisons of utility in utilitarianism?
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What implications does average utility have in utilitarianism?
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What is the 'repugnant conclusion' in the context of total utility?
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How does Mill differentiate between higher and lower pleasures?
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What criteria does Mill propose for determining which pleasures are higher?
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What is the Euthyphro Problem in relation to Mill's view on higher pleasures?
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How does Mill suggest we should approach ethical decision-making in utilitarianism?
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What are secondary principles in Mill's utilitarianism?
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How does Mill's appeal to secondary principles address criticisms of utilitarianism?
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What is the first step in Mill's proof of the greatest happiness principle?
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What does Mill mean by 'the only proof of desirability is desire'?
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How does Mill argue that each person desires their own happiness?
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What conclusion does Mill reach about happiness as a desired state?
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What challenges does utilitarianism face regarding distributive justice?
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In what ways can utilitarianism be considered too demanding?
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What role do intuitions about rights play in the critique of utilitarianism?
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How does Mill's utilitarianism differ from classical utilitarianism?
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What is the significance of 'competent judges' in Mill's philosophy?
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How does Mill's view on happiness relate to the concept of the greater good?
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What implications does Mill's utilitarianism have for moral decision-making?
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How does Mill address the potential conflict between individual rights and utilitarian principles?
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What is the relationship between pleasure and value in Mill's utilitarianism?