John Stuart Mill -Utilitarianism

Once upon a time there was a Taurus/ Philosopher named John Staurt Mill.

He was kind of funny looking, but a lot less intimidating than Kant. Mill theorized that actions are right/ moral in proportion to the amount of happiness they produce. He said pleasure and avoidance of pain are naturally sought after and should be most highly sought after.

Not to give Hippies the run of the law, he also added: Life does have a higher purpose than the pursuit of just pleasure. Some kinds of pleasure are more significant and meaningful than others. Quality matters. No human wants to give up their humanity to enjoy basic animal pleasures. We were given higher abilities for a reason.

Reasoning and thought are the basis of what make us unique and important as a species. Pleasure should focus on higher faculties than just intensity. People can also sacrifice their own pleasure or happiness to serve the happiness of others. Therefore -since pleasure and happiness are most highly sought after and are the basis of most human actions -Sacrifice is the greatest virtue because it requires a person to put their own personal desires aside to help others.

Being conscious of a higher purpose is what makes people enjoy life and rise above suffering. Therefore, sacrifice that amounts to nothing is a waste. Only a sacrifice that achieves the greatest level of happiness is desired.

Humans should also seek to be disinterested and benevolent. (I call this compassionate detachment -Buddha and Jesus mentioned this). There should be an association between your own personal happiness and the good of the whole. Sort of like majority rules. Promoting general good and happiness should become a habitual motive. Mankind is in a state of perpetual improvement. He should use utility (the quality of something and how long something lasts) to decide between right and wrong.

This is the basis of Mills "Greatest Happiness Principle". Enjoyment/ Happiness and freedom from and prevention of pain are desired ends in themselves. Self-Fulfillment is the greatest pleasure a person can experience.The more happiness an action produces the more morally good it can be said to be. The amount of pain an action produces also outweighs whatever pleasure can come from it. You should lessen pain before you increase enjoyment.

It also focuses on self-interest being based in the interest in the whole. You should consider the impact your actions will have on others. Put yourself in someone else's shoes. You should not privilege yourself over others.

Act Utilitarian: Focuses on individual cases. In the moment.

Rule Utilitarian: Long view. What promotes happiness overall. Longest lasting. Doesn't necessarily go case by case. Leans towards Universalizing.

You can't possibly know what will happen in the future. There may be unintended negative consequences that will occur out of good intent at achieving overall happiness. The 18th Amendment for example -ended alcohol temporarily, but started organized crime. Since you cannot know the full ramifications of an action, you have to make the best educated, rational guess you can at the time. It's better to shoot for the best than to have no standards at all.