Single Idea 5935

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

Full Idea

Mill's introduction of quality of pleasures into the hedonistic calculus is an unconscious departure from hedonism and a half-hearted admission that there are other qualities than pleasantness in virtue of which states of mind are good.

Gist of Idea

Mill's qualities of pleasure is an admission that there are other good states of mind than pleasure

Source

comment on John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism [1861], Ch.2) by W. David Ross - The Right and the Good §VI

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.145


A Reaction

Mill argues that experienced people prefer some pleasures to others, but ducks the question of why they might prefer them. It can only be because they have some further desirable quality on top of the equal amount of pleasure.