John Stuart Mill, a very important philosopher of the 19th century, is one of the first advocates of utilitarianism. In his essay, Selections From Utilitarianism, Mill defines what the theory is and provides his answers to common misconceptions people have against it. Utility, or the greatest happiness principle, states that “actions are good to the extent that they tend to promote happiness, evil to the extent that they tend to produce the opposite of happiness” (77 Mill). Utilitarianism focuses on the general good of the world rather than individual pleasure. Although the theory seems interesting, as we would all like world peace, Mill's answers pose some problems for me that make me question the legitimacy of the theory. Mill explained in his essay that, according to utilitarianism, the moral value of an action rests solely on the outcome of the event, making the theory consequentialist (55, Bennett). Furthermore, he believes that the intentions behind the actions are insignificant. The only thing that matters is the right action. The problems I have with this particular idea are as follows :...