John Stuart Mill · Politics

The Greatest Happiness

Mill’s refined utilitarianism: that the right action is the one producing the most happiness - but with a crucial distinction between higher and lower pleasures.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Mill ranks pleasures by quality, not just quantity. Explain how he decides which pleasures are higher, and why he needed that move, in your own words.

Leads to Peter Singer.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on John Stuart Mill

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.