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23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 2. Ideal of Pleasure
Judgements of usefulness depend on judgements of value [Russell]
     Full Idea: All judgements as to what is useful depend upon some judgement as to what has value on its own account.
     From: Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 7)
     A reaction: This is a beautifully simple point to be made about utilitarianism. The notion that pleasure is the sole good is prior, and the first two sentences in Bentham totally beg that question. What is the value of pleasure? Is it wicked to turn down a pleasure?