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Utilitarianism

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Utilitarianism

Despite making valid claims on justice, John Stuart Mill 's attempt to
reconcile justice and utility is not successful. Mill explains how justice
dictates certain actions and results; however, he does not thoroughly explain
how each aspect promotes the most utility for all. In other words, Mill
describes how the different interpretations of justice are often interpreted,
while explaining that there is too individual interpretation, he demonstrates
how justice cannot be reconciled with utility. Mill begins his argument by
giving five interpretations of justice. First, is the notion that it is"unjust to deprive a person of their liberty, property, or any other thing
which belongs to him"(Mill, 43). Next he goes on to describe how justice, when
interpreted as a legal right, should always be upheld and thoroughly obeyed.

Mill attacks this claim by explaining that laws are sometimes unjust, and that
most laws follow the general laws of what is morally right. Thus in most
instances, as Mill claims, laws are not needed. He then goes on to examine the
claim that justice can be correlated to what one "deserves"(Mill, 44). This
claim also leaves too much room for individual pleasure. The next rule of
justice Mill discusses refers to the notion of faith. According to Mill this
rule is, "not regarded as absolute, but as capable of begin overruled by a
stronger obligation of justice on the other side..."(Mill, 44). Lastly, Mill
explains how being "partial" is not in acco...

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Submitted by: freeessay
Date Submitted: 03-28-01 6:30am
Category: Philosophy
Words: 424
Pages: 1.7