. The suggestion that intellectual (higher) pleasures are of greater value than sensual (lower) pleasure leads us to question whether the argument is objective truth or subjective opinions of Mill’s. The latter, in my opinion, is more likely as it is not surprising that he, as a well known intellectual, would defend the merits of intellectualism and believe that these pleasures are of intrinsically more value than merely physical ones. Another fault in Mill’s theory is that it basically allows the majority to trample over the needs and desires of the individual in order to obtain ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’, even though much of his work was concerned with the ‘tyranny of the majority’ and the rights of the individual. This leads to questions about dealing with minority groups in society such as whether a group of Muslims, native to the country, should be denied the right to build a mosque to worship in, simply because the majority do not follow that faith? The majority may not always be right, but according to Mill’s (and Bentham’s) theory, it is their needs and desires that are most important and must be provided for.Utilitarianism is an interesting system and both Bentham’s and Mill’s versions offer sensible guidelines for the individual and for legislation. They can, however, only be understood as guidelines due to their shortcomings. I personally prefer Mill’s version as he bases his ideas on the degrees and quality of pleasure which can be experienced, not just on the quantity. Bentham’s simplistic view does not fully comprehend the diversity of human emotion and the effects it has on moral judgements. They both, however, rely on consequences to aid in a moral decision - this being the major flaw in both versions - but it is impossible for one to predict the full implications of ones action before proceeding without using some kind of time...
