The Moral Philosophy of John Stuart Mill

At the very heart of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism is a concern which can be traced back to the Biblical parable of the house built on sand - an improper foundation. With this in mind, Mill audaciously sets out to develop a "foundational program" of morality, one that incorporates a principle that can be the basis for all other moral thinking. To find this foundational principle, the naturalistic Mill examines the common, fundamental beliefs of …

…Stuart Mill, in his search for the true basis of morality, expounds what is viewed by many to be the most compelling and intuitive moral theory in existence. Its widespread popularity and acceptance is due in no small part to its solid base, the self-evident first principle of the intrinsic goodness of pleasure. This statement is the foundation of Mill's further philosophical thinking, and has a profound effect on his moral outlook as a whole.