Single Idea 3764

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 1. Utilitarianism]

Full Idea

The Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain.

Gist of Idea

Actions are right if they promote pleasure, wrong if they promote pain

Source

John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism [1861], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.257