John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism refines Bentham's model by emphasizing higher pleasures and prioritizing individual liberty. While it provides a rational framework for policymaking focused on collective happiness, criticisms highlight risks to minority rights and moral absolutes. Mill’s ideas remain influential, but require integration with other ethical frameworks for just governance.
Tag: Kant vs Mill
Mill’s Utilitarianism vs. Rights-Based Theories – Can Collective Good Justify Limiting Individual Rights?
John Stuart Mill's philosophy attempts to reconcile utilitarianism with individual rights, emphasizing the need for personal freedoms unless harm to others occurs. While advocating for happiness maximization, he introduces the harm principle to limit state overreach. The essay critiques the balance between collective good and individual rights, highlighting contemporary governance challenges.