Original scientific paper
On an Interpretation of Mill’s Qualitative Utilitarianism
CHRISTOPH SCHMIDT-PETRI
Abstract
This paper is a reply to Jonathan Riley’s criticism of my reading of Mill
(both published in the Philosophical Quarterly 2003). I show that Riley’s interpretation has no textual support in Mill’s writing by putting the supposedly supporting quotations in their proper context. Secondly it is demonstrated how my reading is not incompatible with hedonism. Mill’s use of the concepts of ‘quality’, ‘quantity’, and ‘pleasure’ are explained and illustrated. I conclude by considering whether the possible redundancy of Mill’s quality/quantity discussion would be problematic.
Keywords
Mill; utilitarianism; quantity; quality; qualitative utilitarianism; incommensurability; pleasure; hedonism; higher and lower pleasures
Hrčak ID:
7176
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2006.
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