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Justice Challenges Utilitarianism
- Justice was a major early objection to utilitarianism because maximizing total happiness may justify extreme injustice to individuals.
- Utilitarianism must balance aggregate happiness and fairness, avoiding sacrificing the innocent for social gain.
Bentham and Diminishing Utility
- Bentham grasped diminishing marginal utility: more resources to the rich yields less happiness increment than to the poor.
- He also noted losses hurt more than gains, complicating redistribution decisions.
Mill's Higher vs Lower Pleasures
- John Stuart Mill introduced higher and lower pleasures, valuing intellectual and moral development over base pleasures.
- He argued only those who experienced higher pleasures can judge their superiority.