The Norton Library Podcast Better Socrates Dissatisfied than a Fool Satisfied? (Utilitarianism, Part 1)
Nov 17, 2025
Peter Singer, the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton and a key figure in moral philosophy, dives deep into John Stuart Mill's influential Utilitarianism. He discusses Mill's background, mental crises, and reform ambitions. Singer explains Mill's nuanced definition of happiness and critiques surrounding utilitarianism, including justice and punishment. He highlights Mill's legacy in contemporary philosophy and how his ideas on higher vs. lower pleasures and social reforms resonate in modern discussions of ethics.
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Mill's Personal Crisis And Recovery
- John Stuart Mill underwent a severe intellectual and emotional crisis in his late teens/early twenties when he questioned utilitarianism.
- He read thinkers like Coleridge and eventually integrated their ideas, broadening his utilitarian outlook.
Mill Made Utilitarianism Publicly Persuasive
- Mill developed Bentham's reforming utilitarianism into a more readable, publicly influential philosophy.
- His essays translated reformist aims into fluent prose, expanding utilitarian influence in politics and society.
Core Definition Of Utilitarianism
- Mill (like Bentham) defines right action by its consequences for overall well-being.
- Utilitarianism aims to maximize happiness and minimize suffering for everyone affected.
