Essay on Is Mill a Rule Utilitarian - 906 Words

D. Vinson Is Mill A Rule Utilitarian? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I don’t believe so. I must begin my argument with two definitions and one assumption. First, Rule Utilitarianism states that right action is defined by whether or not a given action is an instance of a moral rule that tends to maximize utility. Second, Act Utilitarianism states that right action is defined by whether or not a given action maximizes utility. Finally, the Utilitarian Principle holds that right actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. I hope that my assumption will be granted as it is taken verbatim from the text. With these notions as a starting point I believe that I can now†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The problems with Mill being a rule-utilitarian begin to arise when we examine its method. When, in the statement of the Utilitarian Principle, Mill says that right actions tend to promote happiness, some have taken that to mean th at Mill must only be dealing with classes of action. If this were the case, then an instance of a right action class, if in the wrong (of any infinitely complex) set of circumstances, may fail to maximize happiness but still be right. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Furthermore, an act-utilitarian may still make great use of moral rules to help make right actions. It may be that moral rules provide a generally reliable guideline for how to act without determining that it is always the right way to act and that they indicate completely wrong action in some cases. This is supported by a passage from the text. Mankind must by this time have acquired positive beliefs as to the effects of some actions on their happiness; and the beliefs which have thus come down are the rules of morality for the multitude, and for the philosopher until he has succeeded in finding better. That philosophers might easily do this, even now, on many subjects; that the received code of ethics is by no means of divine right;Show MoreRelatedEssay on Is Mill a Rule Utilitarian?920 Words   |  4 PagesD. Vinson Is Mill A Rule Utilitarian? I dont believe so. I must begin my argument with two definitions and one assumption. First, Rule Utilitarianism states that right action is defined by whether or not a given action is an instance of a moral rule that tends to maximize utility. Second, Act Utilitarianism states that right action is defined by whether or not a given action maximizes utility. Finally, the Utilitarian Principle holds that right actions are right in proportion as they tend toRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill And The Utilitarian Tradition1259 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a nineteenth century British philosopher whom tacked issues such as epistemology, economics, social and political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, religion and current affairs. His greatest philosophical influence is in moral and political philosophy, most notably his articulation and defense of utilitarianism and liberalism. Mills most significant innovations to the utilitarian tradition concern his claims about the nat ure of happiness and the role of happiness inRead MoreSimilarity Between Religion And Utilitarianism813 Words   |  4 Pagesand utilitarian, religion is not utilitarian. The basic idea of utilitarianism is hat actions are judged according to their consequences and the relevant consequence of every action is happiness. 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