Mill's Proof of Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill's argument for utilitarianism presented in Chapter IV of Utilitarianism, attempting to derive the principle of utility from facts about human nature: people desire happiness; happiness is therefore good; therefore the greatest happiness is the ultimate moral end. The proof remains philosophically controversial.
Real World
Mill's proof mirrors how advertisers argue a product is good simply because people want it — critics like G.E. Moore pointed out this commits the 'naturalistic fallacy', confusing what is desired with what is desirable, just as a popular product isn't necessarily a good one.
Exam Focus
When 'assessing' Mill's proof, identify Moore's naturalistic fallacy criticism explicitly; this is a high-value evaluative point that frequently appears on mark schemes.
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