Act and Rule Utilitariansim Act utilitarianism (Bentham) Looks at the consequences of each individual act and calculates utility each time the act is performed Rule utilitarianism (Mill) Looks at the consequences of having everyone follow a particular rule and calculates the overall utility of accepting or rejecting the rule

Rule Utilitarianism Rule Utilitarianism: We should not try and calculate pleasure vs. pain for every action. Rather – we should develop a system of rules based upon the principle of utility By following these general rules, the overall greater good will result. Can also see how this avoids issues of practicality Further, helps with protection of individual rights... If everyone went around torturing everyone then greatest happiness would not be served, so rule = don’t torture

Mill’s version of Utilitarianism Mill highlights the main problems with Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus He disagrees with it’s quantitative measure and it’s predictive value Mill was also concerned with what counts as pleasure

John Stuart Mill 1806-1873 Bentham’s Godson Mill believed that quality was more important than quantity when it came to pleasure. For example, the pleasures of the mind are far superior to the gratification of the body’s desires. This deals with the problem of sadistic torturers, as their pleasure is of a significantly lower kind.  

Higher and Lower Pleasures Intellectual, Cultural, Spiritual pleasures are better than bodily/physical ones. Why? Idea of a competent judge – someone who had experienced both in full measure Competent judges would tell us to pursue intellectual pleasures as they are of better quality. Also – we would not give up our humanity to be a fully satisfied animal

Mill Quote “Better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied… better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Mill is concerned with educating people and helping them distinguish between higher and lower pleasures. Mill was also concerned about the minority and how they can be protected. He came up with ‘the harm principle’ he argued that the ultimate greatest happiness of society at large was served by having a just society...... Which means having individual rights. Mill believed that certain general rules must be established in order to benefit the whole of society. Therefore Mill is more involved in Rule Utilitarianism and Bentham with Act Utilitarianism!