John Stewart Mill's Groundwork For The Metaphysics Of Ethics

I argue that lying is permissible in situations where lying is used for the greater good of others, which is supported by John Stewart Mill’s conception of Utilitarianism. According to Kant in the “Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals” it is not permissible to lie because he defines morality as not harming others, which lying does according to his “Metaphysics of Ethics.” Conversely, Utilitarianism is the theory that right actions maximize happiness, which could mean this happiness is acquired at another’s expense. At the core of this theory is the Greatest Happiness Principle. This principle states that one should act such that one’s actions produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Whatever action is being done, as long …show more content…
In the text he states, “…actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” Although I do not believe that people should lie if they have devious or malicious intent, lying can be the right action to take in situations of self-preservation, the preservation of others, or where it can be used to benefit a multitude of people. Lying is an act that should be used sparingly and not excessively. It should be used in special situations like, but not exclusive to, the ones aforementioned. Mill also makes the argument, “Whatever can be proved to be good, must be so by being shown to be a means to something admitted to be good without proof.” By this measure, lying can only be good so long as it is proved to be a means to an end that is a good in and of itself. Therefore, in a given situation where others could understand that, for instance, someone lied to save someone’s life it would be acceptable. Another conception that is important to Utilitarianism is pain and pleasure. A part of the Greatest Happiness Principle states that one’s actions maximize ones’ pleasure and avoid pain. In the text Mill