Single Idea 3776

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

Full Idea

The Greatest Happiness Principle is a mere form of empty words unless one person's happiness, supposed equal in degree, is counted for exactly as much as another's (Bentham's "everybody to count for one, nobody for more than one").

Gist of Idea

Utilitarianism only works if everybody has a totally equal right to happiness

Source

John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism [1861], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.319