John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism

According to John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism is a philosophical theory that lies on the idea that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." Mill argues that happiness is the absence of suffering and pleasure. He contends that joys can vary in both number and quality, and that pleasures derived from one's higher mental skills ought to be given greater weight than simpler pleasures (Utilitarianism.Net). Additionally, Mill contends that a person's pleasure should be measured in part by the accomplishment of their objectives and aims, such as leading virtuous lives. Notably, utilitarianism as noted by Mill is unique because of its commitment to impartiality, a defining element that permeates its ethical framework. As such impartiality in utilitarianism refers to the idea that moral judgments should give equal weight to the happiness or well-being of every individual. Mill emphasizes the importance of weighing the interests of all parties impacted by a decision without showing bias or preference toward any one group or person in particular. 

Mill argues that in utilitarianism, impartiality refers to a viewpoint that is universal and transcends individual preferences or allegiances. According to this viewpoint, actions should be evaluated based on their overall utility, regardless of one’s personal attachments or biases. Thus, Mill’s view on impartiality of Utilitarianism bases on the acknowledgement of every individual’s inherent value and their ability in experiencing pleasure or pain. Mill states that “T]he happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct, is not the agents own happiness, but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested and benevolent spectator” (Mill  98). Thus, utilitarianism prioritizes the happiness of a select group, making favoring one's family over others inconsistent with its impartial ethos. In addition, Mill argues that valuing one's family's happiness over others undermines utilitarianism's principle of equal consideration of interests, as it neglects the well-being of others and undermines impartial decision-making.  This means that, privileging the happiness of one's family members above others depicts that one will be neglecting the interests and well-being of individuals outside that circle, thereby diminishing the overall utility of the action. 

Work Cited

“Introduction to Utilitarianism.” Utilitarianism.Net, 29 Jan. 2023, utilitarianism.net/introduction-to-utilitarianism/. 

Mill, John Stuart. "Utilitarianism." 96-107.