Doctrine of Swine

John Stuart Mill describes the utilitarian theory of right action to be, "Actions that are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number." What I take from this is the meaning, an action is right if it promotes happiness within everyone included, and it is wrong if it does not. Focusing on the amount of pleasure an action has, and also focusing on the lack of pain that it causes. The perfect use of the theory would to have an action that creates a high amount of pleasure WHILE diminishing any pain.

The Doctrine of Swine objection to utilitarianism is explained as, if the utilitarian theory of right action is correct, then the only real moral consideration is the amount of pleasure but according to the objection it is wrong that the only moral consideration is pleasure. An example that is used is about inheriting $100,000. Basically you could spend that $100,000 in any way you would want to bring pleasure to yourself and others for an unforeseen amount of time. Now although all that spending would bring pleasure, it isn't proven that is it the moral choice over not spending it at all. Therefore, that would make utilitarianism false.

Mill's negates this objection by introducing the three variables of pleasure, two of which he had touched on before this point. These variables are; duration and intensity (which we already knew) and then adding the third variable of quality. For example, although many may consider studying as not bringing much pleasure and then therefore be against the utilitarian theory of right action, you need to look at it from a different angle. Bring the three variables into perspective - when studying the intensity of pleasure may not be high but if done correctly wouldn't the duration and quality of the pleasure be higher then normal if you did well from a result of studying? Therefore by introducing quality, Mill's believed you could better explain how utilitarianism is right and also balance out the morality issue that the Doctrine of Swine brought up.

Mill's also replies with an ancient Greek utilitarianism thought - each person's happiness is counted for just as much as the next person's happiness. Every person's happiness is equally important. Utilitarianism has a lot to do with happiness, and the pursuit of it. A lot of what Mill's touches on were also something that Greek utilitarian's