What is Mill's Principle of Utility?

Canadian Journal of Philosophy 3 (1):1-12 (1973)
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Abstract

In mill the principle of utility does not ascribe rightness or wrongness to anything. It governs not just morality but the whole art of life. It says that happiness is the only thing desirable as an end. But the meaning of this formulation is problematic, Since mill's theory of practical reason conceives this desirability as an end as generating reasons for action for all agents in a way implying impartiality between self and others, Whereas in the ordinary sense it does not. This interpretation is supported by detailed textual analysis

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Donald G. Brown
University of British Columbia

References found in this work

The Methods of Ethics.Henry Sidgwick - 1907 - Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia 30 (4):401-401.
The Methods of Ethics.Henry Sidgwick - 1890 - International Journal of Ethics 1 (1):120-121.
The Possibility of Altruism.John Benson - 1972 - Philosophical Quarterly 22 (86):82-83.
Mill on liberty and morality.D. G. Brown - 1972 - Philosophical Review 81 (2):133-158.

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