John Stuart Mills: Utilitarianism.

Abstract: (5 pp) Utilitarianism is an ethical theory developed in the modern period by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-73) to promote fairness in British legislation during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when the interests of the upper classes tended to prevail and the sufferings of the lower classes were neglected. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that calls for putting benevolence into action. Mill interprets the term utilitarianism as signifying any moral theory (the terms ethical and moral are used synonymously by Bentham and Mill, ) in which acts are judged on the basis of their utility. Mill further specifies that there is no one conception of what constitutes utility and there is no implication of a sect. The author expresses dissention with "The Ultimate Sanction of the Principle of Utility." Bibliography lists 3 sources.

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Catagory: Philosophy Of Religion, God'S Existence & Freewill

Subcatagory: Philosophy

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