The objectors of the utilitarianism argue that the ethical principle requires so much from people in the promotion of general societal interests. These objectors believe that the standards set by utilitarianism is too high for ordinary people. In his response, Mill opines that the objectors mistake the essence of “a standard of morals and confound the rule of action with the motive of it” (Mill 17). Mill believes that people should be motivated to perform morally right or morally wrong actions and that utilitarianism is not merely a guide for people to make pragmatic decisions. Mill further observed that people are affected by their actions. For example, in a small social setting like a family, the action of a member can affect another member negatively or positively. This implies that a narrow setting like a family is enough to induce morally right action.
Mill’s theory suggests that people should not have an excuse for not behaving or acting in a manner that promotes the interests of the greater society. Another question that is asked in the text regards the motives that people should cultivate according to utilitarianism. Mills answers this question by responding that people should strive to do anything that can maximize happiness (Mill 18). He compares the actions of Mary and Martha in the Bible and concludes that even though Martha does morally right things, Mary’s character as a kind and sympathetic individual generates the greatest happiness even though she does morally wrong things. The generation of happiness through morally wrong acts at the expense of morally right acts raises objections to utilitarianism. Mill responds that doing the right thing may not necessarily be an act of utilitarianism if the morally right action causes unhappiness in people or make them uncomfortable. The adequate part of the response is the belief that people deserve to be happy. However, the inadequate part of the response is the belief that happiness can be sought through wrong actions.
Work Cited
Mill, John Stuart. The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of
Women and Utilitarianism. Modern Library, 2010.
