John Stuart Mill Free Will Analysis

John Stuart Mill investigates free will and the reasoning behind making decisions in his theories of utilitarianism. The concept of utilitarianism explained by Mill, is to establish that the actions that causes the greatest happiness experienced by the greatest number of people are just and right. Mill explains that the quantity of happiness, as well as quality is the aphorism of which individuals should abide by. The opposite or reverse of this happiness is therefore considered wrong. Happiness is defined as pleasure or joyous emotion and the absence of pain and sadness. However, it is uncertain as to what is considered pleasure or pain of an individual. Moreover, freedom from pain is desirable to promote pleasure in an individual and this

represents the utilitarian view of morality. All desirable things are coveted for the pleasure of others, as well as the contentment of themselves. Mill states: “to desire anything, except in proportion as the idea of it is pleasure, is a physical and metaphysical impossibility”. Individuals, in their actions, should prevent pain and use exaltation as their moral criteria. However, there is a difference in pleasures, the quality of enjoyment is subjective to the individual and the question of judging the value of one pleasure over another is dubious. In Mill’s works he distinguishes that although the quality of pleasure is significant, the greater of two pleasures is the one that of amount. In addition if one is prefered more than the other by most of the participating individuals, although there may be a greater amount of discontent and they would not resign it for the opposing pleasure, then it can be considered justified. Furthermore, utilitarianism is based on measuring the consequences of the action. Mill, thus believes that the outcomes of euthanasia will bring utility to the patient but also the other patients, waiting for care and medical equipment.