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    Mill's own proof treats utility as the sole object of des... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Impartiality is constitutive of the Utility principle, not merely a supplement to it

    Mill's own proof treats utility as the sole object of desire prior to any interpersonal accounting, showing utility is defined independently of impartiality.

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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Mill's proof in Chapter 4 establishes that happiness is desired for itself, prior to introducing the greatest happiness principle for society.
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    • 2.Individual utility and impartial utility are conceptually distinct; personal desire for happiness doesn't logically entail equal concern for all.
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    • 3.Mill argues people desire their own happiness first, then extends this via habituation—suggesting impartiality is added, not foundational.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Mill's proof doesn't distinguish between psychological desires and normative principles; personal utility being desired doesn't prove it's the sole object of moral desire.
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    • 2.Mill explicitly states impartiality emerges from education and social sentiment, suggesting utility's meaning transforms through moral development, not independence.
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    • 3.Mill's utilitarian principle demands equal consideration of interests; if utility's definition excluded this, his ethics would be internally incoherent.
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    Related

    Impartiality is constitutive of the Utility principle, not merely a supplement t...Individual utility and impartial utility are conceptually distinct; personal des...Mill argues people desire their own happiness first, then extends this via habit...Mill explicitly states impartiality emerges from education and social sentiment,...
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    Mill's proof doesn't distinguish between psychological desires and normative pri...Mill's proof in Chapter 4 establishes that happiness is desired for itself, prio...Mill's utilitarian principle demands equal consideration of interests; if utilit...

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