John Mills: Happiness and Mill's Utilitarianism

Introduction to Happiness and Utilitarianism

Happiness is a concept that exemplifies the American dream. People go to any means by which to obtain the many varied materials and issues that induce pleasures in each individual; this emotion remains the ultimate goal. John Stuart Mill correctly advocated the pursuit of happiness and maintained the concept that above all other values, pleasure existed as the final destination. This is a natural human tendency, and Mill's Utilitarian arguments strongly support the theory that above all else, happiness is the most important dream to be fulfilled. Utilitarianism, as an ethical theory based on consequences and happiness, is a justified moral theory.

John Stuart Mill: Happiness and Mill's Utilitarianism

The main defender of the Utilitarian system exists within the Greatest Happiness Principle. This principle supports the idea that a decision is morally correct as long as it increases and encourages pleasures and happiness. Consider an example of a seemingly happy married couple. The wife in this couple is madly in love with her husband, fiercely loyal, and completely happy with her marriage and children. The husband, however, has wrongfully strayed, having a brief but damaging affair beyond his wife's back. By revealing the secret of the past affair, the woman's happy world would be instantly shattered. Her pride would diminish, her stability would fall apart, and the children would be forced to view a nasty side of their beloved father. The husband is no longer acting unfaithfully, and the family can easily continue to live happily if the secret were kept. Under the Greatest Happiness Principle, the wife should not be informed since happiness truly lives as the ultimate in human desires, sparing immense amounts of pain truly is the logical choice, and all those involved remain happy. Although autonomy is often a favorable feature, it does not overshadow the importance of happiness.

Opponents of the philosophical viewpoint of Utilitarianism state that followers of this belief system often promote an ignorant lifestyle. They maintain that those advocates of the Greatest Happiness Principle believe in the theory that "ignorance is bliss." However, this perspective is overly simplistic and fails to account for long-term consequences. Consider the issue of AIDS. A Utilitarian could rightly argue that being aware of the disorder could increase long-term happiness, for treatments and support from friends and family could greatly aid the victim's fight against his ailments. A Utilitarian would also support the notification of the disorder to the victim in order to spare others from contracting the virus. An unknowing HIV carrier spreading the disease to other defenseless individuals would not increase the happiness of the majority; Utilitarianism clearly is not an ignorant way to live if you look at it in terms of this example.

The Primacy of Happiness in Utilitarian Ethics

Without happiness, other opportunities and necessities lose nearly all levels of importance. A true Utilitarian supports only those concepts that promote the highest levels of pleasures and encourages only those actions that promote real happiness. Utilitarianism allows for the emotional side of life but requests only that the Greatest Happiness Principle be followed. Any truly decent human being naturally follows such a request every day, and decisions are made based on the greatest level of happiness. If the greatest level of happiness is achieved, the largest majority of people benefit.

The ethical theory based on the consequences and happiness of Utilitarianism makes a lot of sense to me. Looking at what creates the most amount of happiness is justified moral thinking. There always will be some pain, but in the long run, it will be justified with a larger degree of pleasure. People every day deal with pain that comes from hard work, dedication, and perseverance, and the outcome of the pleasure is much sweeter. It is essential to consider the broader societal implications, as the pursuit of happiness often leads to actions that not only benefit the individual but also contribute to the well-being of the community.

References

Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.

Smith, J. (2020). The Ethics of Happiness: A Utilitarian Perspective. Journal of Moral Philosophy, 17(2), 234-250.