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How is Mill's 'Proof' supposed to work? Does it succeed?
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How is Mill's 'Proof' supposed to work? Does it succeed? In chapter IV of Utilitarianism Mill attempts to justify the Utilitarian theory - that happiness is desirable, and the only thing that is desirable. Mill introduces the idea of proof into Utilitarianism by pointing out that there can be no proof in the strict sense - 'the questions of ultimate ends do not admit of proof'. However, as an empiricist, he does say that one can make appeals to the senses and consciousness in order to establish facts. He requires this faith in the senses to establish the basis for his proof. When considering Mill's 'proof' we must consider the audience he was thinking of - people who believed that there exists something good, something desirable, not those who deny existence of such a thing. The question Mill considers is what the nature is of this desirable thing. Mill attempts to...
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