Mill distinguishes between pleasures of higher and lower quality. To what objection is he responding when he draws that distinction?
A) That utilitarianism is false because it unreasonably requires people to sacrifice their own good for that of others.
B) That happiness cannot be the only thing desirable as an end because some people sacrifice their own happiness to achieve other ends.
C) That utilitarianism is a doctrine fit for animals, not humans, because it focuses on pleasure instead of nobler goals.
D) That utilitarianism is false because it gets the wrong answer in cases where it recommends immoral actions for the sake of expediency.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mill introduces the distinction between higher and lower pleasures in response to the criticism that utilitarianism is a doctrine fit for animals, not humans, because it seems to focus merely on the pursuit of pleasure, without regard for the quality or nobility of those pleasures. By differentiating between types of pleasures, Mill aims to show that utilitarianism values the uniquely human capacity for higher intellectual and moral pleasures, thus countering the objection that it reduces human aspirations to those of mere animals.

Mill Distinguishes Between Pleasures of Higher and Lower Quality