# Utilitarianism

**Author:** John Mill
**Tags:** Utilitarianism
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 30
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96046

## Description

John Mill’s seminal work, Utilitarianism, stands as a cornerstone in ethical philosophy, offering a robust defense and clear exposition of the theory that defines moral actions by their consequences. Originally published in 1861, this influential essay articulates the principle that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. Mill defines happiness not merely as pleasure, but as a complex state encompassing both pleasure and the absence of pain, crucially distinguishing between higher intellectual pleasures and more base, sensory ones.

This profound text aims to justify the utilitarian principle as the fundamental basis of morality while simultaneously addressing common misconceptions and criticisms leveled against it. Building upon the foundational ideas of his predecessor, Jeremy Bentham, Mill refines the theory, exploring its implications for individual conduct, societal well-being, and the pursuit of justice. Utilitarianism continues to challenge and inspire readers to consider the greatest good for the greatest number in their moral deliberations.