J. S. ミルの功利主義における理想的人間観について : 「生の理論」を手掛かりに

Exploring the Ideal Human Concept in J.S. Mill’s Utilitarianism : Insights from the “Theory of Life”

石川, 裕貴

ISHIKAWA, Hirotaka

[SUMMARY] The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the idealized human figure presented by J. S. Mill in “Utilitarianism” (1861). In other words, it aims to reveal the conception of humanity that Mill had in mind when developing arguments rooted in utilitarianism. This paper, focusing on Millʼs aspect as a utilitarian, examines the features of the subject supporting Millʼs utilitarianism. By paying attention to the “theory of life” discussed in Millʼs utilitarianism, the paper explores the assumed human image in Millʼs utilitarianism. The conclusion aims to highlight that at the core of Millʼs utilitarianism, there was a strong emphasis on human development. Recent studies on Mill have made significant progress, particularly with the publication of the Collected Works of John Stuart Mill. As a notable achievement, there is a reevaluation of Mill from the traditional understanding of a “contradictory philosopher” to a unified understanding of Mill as a thinker. This reevaluation also applies to the understanding of Millʼs utilitarianism. Traditionally, discussions about Millʼs utilitarianism have been centered around “Utilitarianism,” isolating it from Millʼs other works, leading to numerous observations of contradictions in Millʼs utilitarianism. A representative viewpoint is the assessment of “two Mills” presented by Himmelfarb in On Liberty and Liberalism, The Case of John Stuart Mill (1990), highlighting the contradiction between the principles of liberty and utility. However, recent progress in Mill studies, acknowledging the difficulty of evaluating Millʼs thought without considering the context of his entire body of work, is leading to changes in such interpretations. Additionally, the understanding of Millʼs utilitarianism itself has sparked crucial debates, stemming from J. O. Urmsonʼs work “The Interpretation of the Moral Philosophy of J. S. Mill” (1953) This debate has led to two important interpretations of Millʼs utilitarianism as either act utilitarianism or rule utilitarianism, resulting in detailed research on Millʼs utilitarianism. However, recent research has found it challenging to present a unified understanding of Millʼs thought. This paper aims to reveal the idealized subjectʼs role, crucial for a unified understanding of Mill, through the human image assumed by Mill in utilitarianism. This aspect has been overlooked in traditional studies of Millʼs utilitarianism and is intended to be a valuable contribution to comprehending Mill holistically. Through this discussion, it is expected to provide insight into a unified perspective on utilitarianism and liberalism in Millʼs thought, contributing to an overall understanding of Millʼs philosophy.

https://opac.ll.chiba-u.jp/da/curator/900122463/

https://opac.ll.chiba-u.jp/da/curator/900122463/S18814859-20-1-P141.pdf

千葉大学公共学会

Chiba University. Association for Studies on Public Affairs

Departmental Bulletin Paper

18814859

AA12002541

公共研究 = Journal on Public Affairs

20

1

141

185

2024-03-29

https://doi.org/10.20776/S18814859-20-1-P141

jpn

publisher

Journal on public affairs