Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill

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John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism, as outlined in his seminal work Utilitarianism, presents a foundational ethical theory centered on the principle that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness[1][3]. This theory is rooted in a hedonistic view, where pleasure and the absence of pain are considered the ultimate goals. Mill distinguishes between higher and lower pleasures, arguing that intellectual, moral, or aesthetic pleasures are more valuable than physical or sensual ones[2][4]. Mill's utilitarianism emphasizes the Greatest Happiness Principle, which aims to maximize overall happiness for the greatest number of people[2][5]. He advocates for a rule utilitarian approach, where moral rules are derived from the principle of utility, serving as a basis for moral decision-making[1][4]. This theory seeks to address criticisms by providing a nuanced understanding of happiness and its implications for moral judgments[3][5].