John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, and the Greater Good

By: Arjun Verma

John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher who advocated for utilitarianism. Despite being made more than a century ago, his arguments are among the most prominent today and can offer guidance on how to help society prosper. 

What did he believe?

I took this photo of the Maui Garden of Eden. Should humans be the only one included in a utilitarian calculus? How should utilitarianism weigh the importance of animals? Of plants? Of scenic views? Of traditions?

Mill was exposed to utilitarianism from a young age, as his father was good friends with Jeremy Bentham, another leading utilitarian. However, Mill was deeply influential in creating a new brand of utilitarianism that differed from Bentham’s.

At its core, utilitarianism is a philosophical theory that explains why people should take actions to maximize the happiness of society. Utilitarianism is distinguished from other philosophies in that it only cares about the consequences of our actions. While other theories might care about evaluating actions themselves, utilitarianism has no constraints upon what is ethical besides an action’s consequences.

Mill’s most famous defense of utilitarianism argues that the only way to determine if something is desirable is if people do, in fact, desire it. Given that happiness is something that nearly everyone desires, it must be desirable for each person. As a result, the general happiness must be good for society overall, justifying utilitarianism.

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Why is that relevant today?

While Mill’s argument for utilitarianism is controversial, it does have a few aspects that will always be applicable in helping improve society today.

First, Mill points out that despite our differences, we all have the same underlying motivation for happiness. Even if someone else may disagree with us on something or have a different background, they still have the same biology, which should give them equal worth.

Second, utilitarianism forces us to not only consider our own well-being but also how it impacts others. It can be tempting to only focus on ourselves, but Mill argues that other people’s happiness is important too. This can reshape our beliefs to allow a more well-functioning and cooperative society. When people are too individualistic, it can lead to a worse state of society. However, if we work together, we can achieve a better world

Third, utilitarianism asks us not only to consider our intentions when we take the action but also what happens after we take the action. This forces us to reconsider the long-term implications of our actions. This can prevent rash and impulsive mistakes that come back to bite us in the future.

Overall, John Stuart Mill had a long-lasting impact on philosophy that can teach us lessons today.

Arjun Verma

Arjun is a current high school junior. He is a captain of his high school's Lincoln Douglas debate team.