John Stuart Mill Response Paper

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Response Paper 2
John S. Mill’s provides great support to the theory of utilitarianism as he defines factors for reaching the “ultimate ends” and how they provide clarity to the misconception of utilitarianism. One of those factors is happiness. The underlying idea that Mill’s states, is that “the general happiness, therefore, a good to the aggregate of all persons” meaning, although it is elusive, is a good measure for the means of the ultimate ends in the sense “happiness is desirable” and I believe all humans desire to ultimately be happy, no matter their past or present experiences. All universally understand happiness, I have not met anyone willing to live in misery or sadness by choice. It seems more that that was the hand dealt to each …show more content…

Mill states that the goal of utilitarianism is to reach the “ultimate end” which is happiness overall. Mill holds some truth in this idea since the purpose in life for most humans will be to reach a state of happiness that satisfies them which in turn will lead to a proper morality. What we study, were we live, who we associate with, where we work, and who we love all contribute to the “ultimate end” and in turn will lead to an ethical morality. A good ethical morality is the goal of utilitarianism Mill states that it is what all humans strive to achieve. By humans satisfying their desires that lead to happiness, they will have a good ethical morality. Mill goes on to state that everyone has components of happiness and these all contribute to the individual’s happiness although critics say that these are selfish traits. Your desires are what push you to seek happiness but may lead to your will. Mill states that your will differs from desire in the sense that good moral people do not seek the pleasures that your will manifests. The reason being is that once you have a moral will, it becomes an end in itself and you will begin to force it which becomes a habit and thus is selfish as his …show more content…

Ultimately John Mill provides a strong argument in favor of Utilitarianism. He provides validate points in that happiness is a trait that all human seek to achieve which in turn will provide a good ethical morality for them. Happiness is a means to an “ultimate end” and it is made up of each

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