Essay Example on Utilitarianism Mill Argues Kant's formula of Universal Law

Mill further adds the importance of education as we will be able to gain a greater feeling of unity with our fellow creatures with the aid of an improved education Utilitarianism provides a clearer explanation of this customary morality In Chapter 3 Mill focuses on the question of the ultimate sanction of principle of utility He interprets this as questions about the motives to obey it source of its obligation or binding force p 203 1 At first glance Mill s questions seem empirical As if we need these sanctions to build a fixed utilitarian society which members of it accept the principles and to follow it in their acts However through the end of the chapter Mill seems to be answering a different question The principle question is how can we care as much about any other person as about ourselves in order to maximize the happiness in society At this point the sanction of a moral principle is the motivation to obey it and makes us able to care for our fellow creatures as much as we care for ourselves Mill distinguishes between internal and external sanctions External sanctions are the hope of favor and the fear of displeasure from our fellow creatures or from the Ruler of the Universe p 204 3 We desire confirmation of others and God The properties such as rewards and punishments provide the external sanction of human behavior It generally forms the peer pressure in other words fear for peer s or God s disapproval