On Virtue and Happiness, by John Stuart Mill

English philosopher and social reformer John Stuart Mill was one of the major intellectual figures of the 19th century and a founding member of the Utilitarian Society. In the following excerpt from his long philosophical essay Utilitarianism, Mill relies on strategies of classification and division to defend the utilitarian doctrine that happiness is the sole end of human action. On Virtue and Happiness by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) The utilitarian doctrine is, that happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable, as an end; all other things being only desirable as means to that end. What ought to be required of this doctrine,what conditions is it requisite that the doctrine should fulfill, to make good its claim to be believed? The only proof capable of being given that an object is visible, is that people actually see it. The only proof that a sound is audible, is that people hear it; and so of the other sources of our experience. In like manner, I apprehend, the sole evidence it is possible to produce that anything is desirable, is that people do actually desire it. If the end which the utilitarian doctrine proposes to itself were not, in theory and in practice, acknowledged to be an end, nothing could ever convince any person that it was so. No reason can be given why the general happiness is desirable, except that each person, so far as he believes it to be attainable, desires his own happiness. This, however, being a fact, we have not only all the proof which the case admits of, but all which it is possible to require, that happiness is a good, that each persons happiness is a good to that person, and the general happiness, therefore, a good to the aggregate of all persons. Happiness has made out its t itle as one of the ends of conduct, and consequently one of the criteria of morality. But it has not, by this alone, proved itself to be the sole criterion. To do that, it would seem, by the same rule, necessary to show, not only that people desire happiness, but that they never desire anything else. Now it is palpable that they do desire things which, in common language, are decidedly distinguished from happiness. They desire, for example, virtue, and the absence of vice, no less really than pleasure and the absence of pain. The desire of virtue is not as universal, but it is as authentic a fact, as the desire of happiness. And hence the opponents of the utilitarian standard deem that they have a right to infer that there are other ends of human action besides happiness, and that happiness is not the standard of approbation and disapprobation. But does the utilitarian doctrine deny that people desire virtue, or maintain that virtue is not a thing to be desired? The very reverse. It maintains not only that virtue is to be desired, but that it is to be desired disinterestedly, for itself. Whatever may be the opinion of utilitarian moralists as to the original conditions by which virtue is made virtue, however they may believe (as they do) that actions and dispositions are only virtuous because they promote another end than virtue, yet this being granted, and it having been decided, from considerations of this description, what is virtuous, they not only place virtue at the very head of the things which are good as means to the ultimate end, but they also recognize as a psychological fact the possibility of its being, to the individual, a good in itself, without looking to any end beyond it; and hold, that the mind is not in a right state, not in a state conformable to Utility, not in the state most conducive to the general h appiness, unless it does love virtue in this manner—as a thing desirable in itself, even although, in the individual instance, it should not produce those other desirable consequences which it tends to produce, and on account of which it is held to be virtue. This opinion is not, in the smallest degree, a departure from the Happiness principle. The ingredients of happiness are very various, and each of them is desirable in itself, and not merely when considered as swelling an aggregate. The principle of utility does not mean that any given pleasure, as music, for instance, or any given exemption from pain, as for example health, is to be looked upon as means to a collective something termed happiness, and to be desired on that account. They are desired and desirable in and for themselves; besides being means, they are a part of the end. Virtue, according to the utilitarian doctrine, is not naturally and originally part of the end, but it is capable of becoming so; and in thos e who love it disinterestedly it has become so, and is desired and cherished, not as a means to happiness, but as a part of their happiness. Concluded on page two Continued from page oneTo illustrate this farther, we may remember that virtue is not the only thing, originally a means, and which if it were not a means to anything else, would be and remain indifferent, but which by association with what it is a means to, comes to be desired for itself, and that too with the utmost intensity. What, for example, shall we say of the love of money? There is nothing originally more desirable about money than about any heap of glittering pebbles. Its worth is solely that of the things which it will buy; the desires for other things than itself, which it is a means of gratifying. Yet the love of money is not only one of the strongest moving forces of human life, but money is, in many cases, desired in and for itself; the desire to possess it is often stronger than the desire to use it, and goes on increasing when all the desires which point to ends beyond it, to be compassed by it, are falling off. It may, then, be said truly, that money is desired not for the sake of an end, but as part of the end. From being a means to happiness, it has come to be itself a principal ingredient of the individuals conception of happiness. The same may be said of the majority of the great objects of human life:power, for example, or fame; except that to each of these there is a certain amount of immediate pleasure annexed, which has at least the semblance of being naturally inherent in them—a thing which cannot be said of money. Still, however, the strongest natural attraction, both of power and of fame, is the immense aid they give to the attainment of our other wishes; and it is the strong association thus generated between them and all our objects of desire, which gives to the direct desire of them the intensity it often assumes, so as in some characters to surpass in strength all other desires. In these cases the means have become a part of the end, and a more important part of it than any of the things which they are means to. What was once desired as an instrument for the attainment of happiness, has come to be desired for its own sake. In being desired for its own sake it is, however, desired as part of happiness. The person is made, or thinks he would be made, happy by its mere possession; and is made unhappy by failure to obtain it. The desire of it is not a different thing from the desire of happiness, any more than the love of music, or the desire of health. They are included in happiness. They are some of the elements of which the desire of happiness is made up. Happiness is not an abstract idea, but a concrete whole; and these are some of its parts. And the utilitarian standard sanctions and approves their being so. Life would be a poor thing, very ill provided with sources of happiness, if there were not this provision of nature, by which things originally indifferent, but conducive to, or otherwise associated with, the satisfaction of our primitive desires, become in themselves sources of pleasure more v aluable than the primitive pleasures, both in permanency, in the space of human existence that they are capable of covering, and even in intensity. Virtue, according to the utilitarian conception, is a good of this description. There was no original desire of it, or motive to it, save its conduciveness to pleasure, and especially to protection from pain. But through the association thus formed, it may be felt a good in itself, and desired as such with as great intensity as any other good; and with this difference between it and the love of money, of power, or of fame—that all of these may, and often do, render the individual noxious to the other members of the society to which he belongs, whereas there is nothing which makes him so much a blessing to them as the cultivation of the disinterested love of virtue. And consequently, the utilitarian standard, while it tolerates and approves those other acquired desires, up to the point beyond which they would be more injurious to the general happiness than promotive of it, enjoins and requires the cultivation of the love of virtue up to the greatest strength possible, as being above all things important to the general happiness. It results from the preceding considerations, that there is in reality nothing desired except happiness. Whatever is desired otherwise than as a means to some end beyond itself, and ultimately to happiness, is desired as itself a part of happiness, and is not desired for itself until it has become so. Those who desire virtue for its own sake, desire it either because the consciousness of it is a pleasure, or because the consciousness of being without it is a pain, or for both reasons united; as in truth the pleasure and pain seldom exist separately, but almost always together—the same person feeling pleasure in the degree of virtue attained, and pain in not having attained more. If one of these gave him no pleasure, and the other no pain, he would not love or desire virtue, or would desire it only for the other benefits which it might produce to himself or to persons whom he cared for. We have now, then, an answer to the question, of what sort of proof the principle of utility is susceptible. If the opinion which I have now stated is psychologically true—if human nature is so constituted as to desire nothing which is not either a part of happiness or a means of happiness, we can have no other proof, and we require no other, that these are the only things desirable. If so, happiness is the sole end of human action, and the promotion of it the test by which to judge of all human conduct; from whence it necessarily follows that it must be the criterion of morality, since a part is included in the whole. (1863)

The Effects Of Mtv s 16 And Pregnant On Teen Viewers ...

Taking Sides: 16 and Pregnant Popular media submits many teens to sexual content and influences their views on subjects such as teenage pregnancy. The article Evaluating the Impact of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant on Teen Viewers’ Attitudes About Teen Pregnancy takes a closer look at the relationship between the viewers of the show and their attitudes towards teen pregnancy. Three major weaknesses found after the review of the study are listed as follows; The study has several confounding variables, the sample group is rather small and taken from a single state within the US, and lastly, it makes claims without having sufficient evidence from its own findings as well as other studies. However, the way the study was conducted is relatively very†¦show more content†¦Researchers identified several variables such as gender, ethnicity, and the sexual activity of the teens. However, upon reviewing the analysis portion of the study, these variables were not taken into account and pose problems to the val idity of the study’s findings (J. Haupt, Class Lecture, SFL 210, Fall 2017). A claim that the study makes is, â€Å"Overall, girls disagreed more strongly than boys with the notion that becoming a teen parent would help to get their lives on track. Teen boys were less likely than the girls to believe that teen parenthood would have a negative impact on their educational or career goals† (Evaluating the Impact 2010). There could be an error to this claim due to the fact that it did not take all the other variables into account. Girls could have disagreed more strongly due to if the girls in the sample were more sexually active than the boys, or because their views could have been influenced by other things such as their level of education, or religion. When studies are analyzing their findings they must take into account all of the different aspects of the subject’s sphere of influence. Taking these influences into account make would make this study more reliable because the researchers would be able to see if the treatment was the sole factor that stimulated the resulting behavior (Haupt, Fall 2017). Sample Size and Composure. The size of the study consisted of one-hundred and sixty-two teenagers that were selected from eighteen different

Consumer Behaviour towards Buying Life Insurance Products free essay sample

Life Insurance Products Essays and Term Papers Search 1 20 of 1000 Consumer Buying Behavior For Life Insurance: This report focuses on the consumer behavior and awareness of life insurance towards risk security, the core product of life insurance. The primary drivers of Premium Impact Of Persuasive Advertisements On Consumer Buying Behavior Towards Health Related Products. : | | Impact of persuasive advertisements on consumer buying behavior towards health related products. Introduction: | | This thesis is about the study Premium Consumer-Buying-Behaviour-And-Effectiveness-Of-Marketing-Strategies-Adopted-For-Biscuitsby major companies. To identify different factors that influence consumer buying behaviour towards purchase of biscuits. To suggest improvements in marketing Premium Differentiation Of Undifferentiated Life Insurance Products In Consumers Mindthe primary differentiation factor responsible for consumer preference 5. Experime ntation Different life insurance products offer ed by various companies come Premium Consumer Buying Behaviour Of Magazines[pic] Summer Internship Report ON CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR OF MAGAZINES By ASHISH KUMAR MUKHERJEE A0102109001 MBA(Entrepreneurship) Class of 2011 Premium Consumer Buying BehaviourA SURVEY REPORT ON CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR Submitted To, Submitted by, Mahesh Bhingarde Abhishek Roy Premium Advertisements And Their Impact On Consumer Buying Behaviourideas, or services. We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Behaviour towards Buying Life Insurance Products or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It includes the name of a product or service and how that product or service could benefit the consumer, to persuade a target market to purchase Premium Consumer Buying Behaviour Introduction The Job Of Marketer Is To Meet And Satisfy Target Customers Needs And a larger selection of two-wheelers on the Indian market, consumers started to gain influence over the products they bought and raised higher customer expectations Premium Consumer Buying Behaviourthat his marketing strategy result in purchase of the product. Consumer Buying Process: Understand consumer behaviour makes it mandatory to first understand the Premium Consumer Buying BehaviourA Report On CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR IN SMALL CAR MARKET Submitted to: Prof. Dr. Somnath Chakraborty Faculty (Marketing Management II Premium Consumer Buying Behaviour On Soft Drinksbehaviour. i. e. You feel reassured that you own the latest advertised product. OBJECTIVES * To understand the major factors influencing consumer buying Premium Consumer Buying Behaviourdifficult. Consumer buying behaviour is a multi dimensional concept and our project focuses on only a single concept, which is the outlet size and no. of products Premium Role Of Packaging On Consumer Buying Behaviourshould be highlight while design the packaging. KEY TERMS DEFINED: CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR Process by which individuals search for, select, purchase, use Premium The Influences Of Background Music On Consumers Buying BehaviourInfluences of Background Music on the Consumers Buying Behaviour Table of Contents Index Page Chapter 1: Introduction.. 4-8 1. 1 Background of the study4 Premium Perception Towards Life Insurance After Privatisatonthe investment behavior of the people towards life insurance which includes their yearly investment, investment in a particular product, their satisfaction level Premium Consumer Buying BehaviourCONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR Market research :- Metro shoes Metro shoes store opened its doors to the public in colaba, Mumbai. Over Premium Consumer Buying Behaviour And Awareness Of Dabur Real ActivMARKET RESEARCH ON CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR AND AWARENESS OF DABUR REAL ACTIV Crm : 09- 11 Made Premium Consumer Buying Behaviouravailability as he brought the product online. As marketing students, we realized that understanding consumer buying behaviour offers consumers greater satisfaction

Transtheoretical Model of Change free essay sample

Juvenile Crime Paper Matthew Guy CJS/200 July 6, 2013 Deborah DiFalco In this society, there are adolescences that happen to slip through the cracks and stay in the system of Justice for criminals all through their existence even if some are bailed out by efficient guidelines during crucial developmental periods. The regulation for Juvenile misconduct could be managed on criminals up until 21 years of age when the court considers that the offender is emerging. Some issues related with young crime has to do with living in an insecure family environment and family ostility, deprivation, drugs, negligent peer cliques, frequent contact with violence, media violent behavior, and easy exposure to firearms. The following paper will discuss the difference between Juvenile and adult court, delinquency, status offences, variables of Juvenile crime rates, and recommendations to prevent crimes committed by Juveniles. Difference Between Juvenile and Adult Court Even though adult and Juvenile court mostly fluctuate from each state, there are clear factors that do differentiate the two systems of the court. We will write a custom essay sample on Transtheoretical Model of Change or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In some courts a Juvenile is considered to be under the age of 18, on the other hand in a different court if one is of the age of 18 one is considered an adult. Although if a child happens to be accused of murder, he or she would be transferred to adult court. Court for Juveniles is concentrated on revitalizing or assisting children. Some of these children that have not performed previous crimes, but are mistreated or harmed by their parents or guardian would get their case tried in a Juvenile court. The state pursues to confirm the adult executed the crime at hand, concerning adult court. Adults do not get the privilege that Juveniles do by getting rehabilitation, adult court rather wants justice to be served. The expressions in Juvenile and adult courts are not the same. For example, a Juvenile in court is called a respondent. A defendant is what an adult is called in adult court. The conclusion ofa indictment is titled a verdict in adult court, but in Juvenile court is called adjudication. Delinquency According to New York State Unified Court System (2013), When a person who is under 16 years old, but is at least 7 years old, commits an act which would be a crime if he or she were an adult, and is then found to be in need of supervision, treatment or confinement, the person is called a Juvenile delinquent. Delinquency, destruction and intense misconducts produce substantial harm and are costly to society. A report by the US Congress from a group of college students had distinguished how little scientific assessments occur on traditional patrolling and

Socrates Conception of Law and Justice

Socrates’ philosophy had a great influence on shifting thinking from basic scientific principles to matters that would satisfy the soul. Plato, one of his students, recorded many of Socrates’ teachings. Socrates was born in Athens. This is the place where he lived and where he came up with most of his ideas. A great philosopher based his conception of justice on the principle: â€Å"The man who is good is just†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Socrates’ Conception of Law and Justice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Socrates advocated the idea that justice was good, and that meant that injustice was equal to evil. Furthermore, he emphasized that good was a natural deed and not what man thinks he needs. In addition, he said that a person’s nature was an inner self that needed fulfillment, thus the desire to do good was natural. Providing the explanation of relationship between goo d and justice, Socrates presented the example of an ill seeking treatment, and who gets a cure and, is finally happy. He also gives the example of another man, who is completely healthy and is, therefore, happier. The point he makes here is that justice is the cure for evil, and that a man who never commits an evil deed do not need to be punished, and thus, happier than a man punished for his misdeeds (Vlastos 300). Socrates explains the role of justice in man’s life by stating that men should do harm to enemies when they are evil, and be just to those who are good. He, however, does not accept this chain of thoughts, as, according to his belief, doing harm to others makes more harm to ourselves. This was the beginning of the concept that individual should not harm anyone, even his enemies. Socrates also explains that men fall into pleasures of doing harm to those who harm them instead of being just. Summing up his idea of justice, Socrates declares that to be a poor man who is just is better than being a rich man with wealth acquired through injustice, because injustice taints the soul. In the Crito, there is a dialogue between Socrates and Crito in Socrates’ prison cell. Socrates was awaiting for his execution, but Crito notes Socrates’ peacefulness, his calm way, and his lack of fear in front of the face of the death. This leads to a debate, because Crito assisted Socrates’ escape, and he argues that accepting death would be a great victory of his enemies. He also adds that Socrates was responsible for the education of young people and could not leave them behind as orphans. In his response, Socrates insists that reason will guide his decisions unlike the masses that are dependent on random acts as a guide. He asks Crito what the laws say about his escape, and he proceeds to state that the Laws say that a resident’s position in reference to the municipality was like a child in reference to the parent, or like a slave to hi s master.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He explains that he made a deal with the Laws by remaining in the city and benefiting from it, and that he could not now condemn it on the basis that he was unjustly accused. He further states that the Laws argue that he accepted to obey the law by remaining in Athens after having attained maturity and raised a family within the city walls. Socrates tells Crito that he does not agree with the Law’s argument, but asks if they should accept it, and Crito says that they should. This brings the debate, and then Socrates is executed. We can sum up Socrates’ conception of law and justice in the Crito, and the Apology as the understanding of what is good means, and that accepting law as justice is important because we accept the law that governs us, and by residing in the law’s jurisdiction, we are subjected to its implementatio n. Works Cited Vlastos, Gregory. Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. United States of America: Cambridge University Press, 1991. This essay on Socrates’ Conception of Law and Justice was written and submitted by user Joslyn Carver to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

In 1972, Marvel launched a series focused on its f Essays - Fiction

In 1972, Marvel launched a series focused on its f Essays - Fiction In 1972, Marvel launched a series focused on its first African American superhero Black Panther. As years progressed there started to be more African American superheroes, such as Storm, Blade, Falcon, Spider-man, and many more in marvel comics. However, there is a lack of African Americans actors portraying these roles on the big screen. The only Marvel movies that have casted an African American in a main role are Blade and the recent remake of Fantastic Four. That is only 2 out of 22 Marvel films. Michael B. Jordan an African American actor, who recently played the role of the Human Torch in Fantastic Four. They're some audience who didn't like the idea of Jordan playing the Human Torch since the comic book character is white. There are African American Super heroes in comic books, such as Spiderman, although white in films. So shouldn't African Africans feel some way when they aren't seen in films, but are seen in Comic books? A parent named Leah Red was interviewed walking into Big Planet Comics in Washington D.C. She has a 12 year old son who is African American and enjoys reading comic books." My son has asked me before why can't Super-man be black in films just like he is in Comic Books? And I told him just because he isn't black in films doesn't mean that he isn't just as good of a superhero," Red said. With having a young audience and having them lookup to these superheroes this does affect some children. Some African American children feel as if they can' t be a superhero because they barely see African American superheroes, but some may think otherwise. There are some children who question why the main superheroes in films are not African American. The older audience had some thoughts about the issue as well. A college student by the name Billy Battle an African American male who was spotted in the Fantom Comics in Washington D.C had some thoughts on the issue. Billy says, "I am very into comic books and have noticed that there is a difference between films and comics. People who read comics and have spoken on the issue about not giving them what they see in comic books in films. I have a little brother who questions me about this issue, and I don't really know what to say." An Employee who works at Fandom Comics in Washington, DC by the name Jake Shapiro was asked, "Do you get customers who ask you why there aren't as many black superhero's represented in films, as there is in comics?" Jake says," We don't get asked that maybe because people already know that superheroes movies are created by white creators. If there were black creators then it would be more diversity." Hollywood films rarely cast people of color including superheroes, and there are people who have spoken upon the issue especially on social media. So will there be a change with more African Americans playing main roles in superhero movies? There are rumors on websites such as Cinemablend that an African American man by the name Donald Glover is going to be playing the new spider-man in the next film. If this happens, hopefully they will continue casting African American superheroes in films.

NHS Should Cover Lifestyle Diseases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

NHS Should Cover Lifestyle Diseases - Essay Example The National Health Service (NHS) is a UK government entity that provides health care to patients regardless of their ailments, social, political or religious inclinations as long as one is a UK citizen or has lived in the country for more than 12 months among other conditions. Funds to facilitate healthcare through this scheme are generated mainly from taxes collected from the public. It is estimated that every individual in the country contributes close to ?1000 every financial year totalling the collections to approximately ?100 billion as per 2008/9 budget (Hanson, 2010). This paper is a critical evaluation on whether the NHS should take care of illnesses that are as a result of dangerous habits such as smoking, alcohol abuse, poor dieting among others. Primary Healthcare Trusts (PCTs) in the UK are reportedly refusing to offer certain kinds of treatment to patients, who are considered as living unhealthy life thus barring them from benefiting from the NHS scheme. These patients are for example smokers, abusers of alcohol, and those who have body mass indexes (BMI) exceeding 30 or who are generally overweight and obese. According to Rojas (2012), â€Å"The NHS has been accused of blocking access to surgery for smokers and obese patients.† This has been attributed to the intent of the health sector to save money. Such restrictions are being observed in PCTs in places such as North Essex, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire among others, which are numerous. To begin with, such kinds of restrictions are discriminatory based on the fact that all UK citizens are human beings, who are created equally and with equal rights and privileges, which cannot be denied on the basis of trying to economise on financial resources. The NHS is a scheme, which is there to take care of all citizens’ health needs irrespective of their personal habits especially with the consideration that these people pay taxes, which fund the operations of the scheme (Ham, 2008). Personal habits such as smoking and drinking of alcohol are every person’s right to choose whether to indulge or not. Otherwise, the government could have banned their use long time ago thereby making it illegal to possess or consume. Every citizen has an inalienable right to pursue happiness and if such reward can be found in the use of these legal substances, then, no institution or individual should try and force people to abandon them. The decision to quit smoking, drinking or to minimize intake of junk food is personal but this does not mean that those who choose not to should be condemned to torture, discrimination or death. Denying people of treatment on the basis of their personal habits is a measure that the government should not even contemplate as this does not help them in any way. In deed, it only complicates their health and this may result to deaths that are otherwise preventable. Apart from paying taxes, these people, whether obese or otherwise, contri bute to the country’s economic growth through their different economic activities and services, which they provide to the nation. It therefore goes without saying that if they