J. S. Mill on Higher Pleasures and Modes of Existence

The passage of Mill’s Utilitarianism that sets out the condition in which one pleasure has a superior quality than another stokes interpretive controversy. According to Lexical Interpretation, Mill takes pleasure, P1 , be another, P2 if, and only smallest quantity is more valuable any finite . This paper argues that, while Interpretation may supported with supplementary evidence, itself does not rule qualitative superiority without lexical dominance, as it requires possible for someone experience. Some will object this concession opponents still renders too demanding plausible. However, if rankings apply higher-order pleasures taken modes existence such rather different activities chosen from within these modes, objection loses much its force. One upshot have contribute debates contemporary population axiology usually acknowledged.