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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Mill's own revisions to utilitarianism—introducing qualitative distinctions between pleasures—demonstrate that even consequentialist progress requires departing from rigid first principles.

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    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Adding qualitative distinctions to utilitarianism reintroduces exactly the non-consequentialist value judgments the theory originally rejected, undermining its foundational claim.
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    • 2.Mill's revisions could reflect personal philosophical preferences rather than logical necessity—showing revision occurred doesn't prove rigidity was actually problematic.
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    • 3.If 'departing from first principles' is required for progress, then first principles lack the explanatory power consequentialism claims, making the theory foundationally unstable.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Rigid adherence to quantitative pleasure maximization leads to counterintuitive conclusions (e.g., endorsing mindless contentment over meaningful struggle).
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    • 2.Mill's qualitative distinction preserves utilitarianism's core aim—maximizing well-being—while acknowledging that well-being involves dimensions beyond measurable sensation.
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    • 3.Theoretical evolution in response to internal logical problems is a sign of intellectual maturity, not theoretical failure.
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