Utilitarianism II

“How does Mill avoid the paradox of hedonism–the notion that if we pursue only our own happiness, we will never be happy? Is self-sacrifice a virtue in utilitarianism? What role does the principle of impartiality play in Mill’s calculation?“

Mill is able to avoid the paradox of hedonism in utilitarianism by stating that no one person’s happiness can be more important than another’s, not even in the relative sense. Your family’s happiness is just as important as a lesser off or more well off families. Another way he is able to avoid hedonism is by repeating that utilitarianism is for “mankind collectively” rather than the pleasure of oneself. Although it seems to be a paradox that you act for happiness, not all the time is it only for your own happiness. He makes a clear point to “the happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct… not the agent’s own happiness.” You cannot be happy for yourself only when the concept is to make good for a community rather than the self. In relation to self sacrifice, those who give up their own happiness for that of others is something that is a virtue. For someone to give up their own happiness for the good of others is something that both does good for the community and keeps you from indulging in self satisfaction. With virtue in mind, Mill states that “all honour to those who can abnegate for themselves the personal enjoyment of life, when by such renunciation they contribute worthily to increase the amount of happiness in the world.” Those who are able to give up for themselves can give more for others. Although, someone who gives up their own self desires without the want to better the greater good specifically “is no more deserving of admiration than the ascetic mounted on his pillar.” You cannot be happy for only yourself when the concept is to make good for a community rather than the self.

The role of impartialism, or “to do as you would be done by, and to love your neighbour as yourself” is something that is ideal to “constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality” within the concept. To be impartial is to leave bias behind in making a decision. Say you’re applying for a job and there’s only one more spot available. If both you and the son of the bpss of the company are applying, there is the thought that the son has a better chance than you do. To be impartial is to thrown away the fact that he is the son of the boss and look at his credentials alone, and put you two on equal grounds. Impartiality brings about a sense of equity and equality.

Word Count: 461