Understanding J.S. Mills Utilitarianism EP4 What Utilitarianism Is (cont.)

In episode 4, Mill continues answering objections to his critics. In episode 3 he answered the "pig" objection by pointing out that pigs are incapable of experiencing pleasures of the mind. Therefore, when critics argue that the utilitarian principle is suitable only for pigs, they are wrongly assuming that humans are only capable of physical pleasures. However, Mill digresses from his topic when he argues that mental pleasures are superior to physical pleasures. He introduces a standard for measuring pleasures qualitatively, and it is here where Mill has been criticized because (Mill says) only those people who are capable of experiencing both mental and physical pleasures can "vote" on whether the mental pleasures are better than physical pleasures.
In this episode, we will also discuss the second criticism of the utilitarianism principle -- that the principle is "irrational" and therefore, impossible to achieve as a guide to one's life.