Is God a Utilitarian?

In a well-known passage Mill defends his utilitarian theory against the objection that it is a godless doctrine. He argues, If it be a true belief that God desires, above all things, the happiness of his creatures, and that this was his purpose in their creation, utility is not only not a godless do...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Religious studies 1993-03, Vol.29 (1), p.27-45
Main Author: Holley, D. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Benevolence
Consequentialism
Desire
Divinity
Happiness
Judgment
Morality
Philosophy
Philosophy of religion
Pleasure
Religious studies
Theology
Utilitarianism
Wellbeing
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Summary:In a well-known passage Mill defends his utilitarian theory against the objection that it is a godless doctrine. He argues, If it be a true belief that God desires, above all things, the happiness of his creatures, and that this was his purpose in their creation, utility is not only not a godless doctrine, but more profoundly religious than any other. If it be meant that utilitarianism does not recognize the revealed will of God as the supreme law of morals, I answer that a utilitarian who believes in the perfect goodness and wisdom of God necessarily believes that whatever God has thought fit to reveal on the subject of morals must fulfil the requirements of utility in a supreme degree.
ISSN:0034-4125
1469-901X
DOI:10.1017/S0034412500022022