Utilitarianism & Substance Abuse Part I

Until this point the spotlight of our articles has been inititally concerned with various psychological concepts and theories that demonstrate some connectivity with substance dependency. While ideally these discussions further the overall understanding of the subject more broadly, a fresh perspective could be beneficial in expanding how we conceive of substance dependency. Specifically, a citation of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism may offer additional insight into helpful motivations and cognitions regarding pleasure, happiness, ideal mental states, and changes in behavior.

If the goal is to move forward with any sort of clarity, Mill's central points should be illuminated - in at least a superficial context. However this procession do not constitute a thorough elaboration of Mill, nor does it fully appreciate all his philosophy has to offer. Instead, the basic concepts will be clarified and compared to substance abuse. This specific discourse will avoid political claims, rather, it will cleve more closely to the ethical implications for substance dependent individuals and how utility potentially applies to their experiences.

Mill on Joy

Mill's utility ideology is the backbone of his ethical policy, Utilitarianism. Stated clearly, the basis of utility is "the creed which accepts as the foundation of morals 'utility' or the 'greatest happiness principle' holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure." Mill is advocating happiness as the primary goal of human beings, inclusive to each individual person. Additionally he is essentially condensing happiness to the greatest amount of satisfaction. Some have taken this to signify the ultimate quality of happiness for the greatest quantity of people. And, as Mill says, the ultimate goal also means the elimination of pain for the highest number of people. People want to be happy; the most optimal way to achieve joy is to maximize pleasure in addition to what is ideal, and t
o diminish pain.

Here Mill does not mean any type of pleasure. He is in fact referring to a particular kind of pleasure, truthfully, mental pleasures. Here Mill takes mental pleasures to be intellectual engagement, good health, cognitive awareness, and to an extent, a certain element of autonomy. From Mill, these should be isolated from the lesser pleasures or pleasures of the body. These inferior indulgences include pleasures that are ordinary even amid animals. Simple sensation or the satisfaction of hunger, sex, or any other animalistic appetites are contained in the definition of lower pleasures. The kinds of pleasure explicated by Mill make visible a theme: the pleasures that merit pursuing are called 'higher' pleasures and have a particular dignity, while the lesser pleasures are only physical sensations. There is a definite distinction insomuch as some pleasures are more ideal than others. But Mill is lucid enough that there is a dignity which delineates humans from other beasts. In th
is way, Mill's conception of human happiness evades a bullet as being too visceral.


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This article covers John Stuart Mill and his views on happiness. In this multi-part piece, Mike Writes covers utilitarianism as it pertains to drug rehab & alcohol detox.

http://www.passagesmalibu.com/detox/alcohol-detox-center/
http://www.passagesmalibu.com/addiction-rehab/drug-rehab-center/


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