On “Utilitarianism” Part II (201 words)

Mill avoids the paradox of hedonism by identifying the difference between short term happiness and long-term happiness. He acknowledges that a life spent chasing short-term happiness is unfulfilling and avoids this paradox by offering that utilitarianism prompts the individual not to do this, but to instead live in the pursuit of long-term happiness.

Self-sacrifice is not so much a virtue within utilitarianism as much as it is a practice which should be first nature to the individual. It is not seen as glorified so much as it is seen as the normal thing for one to do.

Mill takes the idea of impartial decision making to the next level. He insists that any one individual’s happiness is worth as much as any others, which is fair and agreeable, but where he might lose people is in the idea that any one life is worth as much as the next. For example, when having to decide between saving the life of a stranger or, say, your mother, you should not give your mother any more sentimental value than you would give the stranger. For Mill, impartiality is critical to utilitarian decision making because it allows for an objective calculation of greatest happiness.