Scholar

John Stuart Mill

1806–1873 · Developed Utilitarianism with higher and lower pleasures; often read as a rule utilitarian.

Biography

John Stuart Mill refined utilitarianism by distinguishing higher (intellectual) from lower (bodily) pleasures, giving a qualitative account often read as rule utilitarianism.

Key Ideas

  • Qualitative higher vs lower pleasures.
  • Rule utilitarianism.
  • Defence of individual liberty.

Topics Appearing In

Key Quotes

“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.”John Stuart Mill

Exam Importance

Use to answer 'is Mill an improvement on Bentham?' and to defend utilitarianism against the swine objection.

Works to explore

Use these titles to locate the scholar's argument in context. Edition-specific commercial recommendations are kept on the component reading lists.

  • Mill — Utilitarianism (by the scholar)