GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

THE ETHICS OF SOCRATES AND PLATO 63
the theory envisages. For, while Hedonism affirms that
pleasure alone is the Good, and makes no pronouncement
as to what forms of pleasure are the most* pleasant, hedonists
are found in practice to concentrate upon the pleasures
of the passional and appetitive parts of our natures.
John Stuart Mill on Pleasure. In his book Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill is careful to defend the view
that pleasure is the -only good from the charge of what is
commonly called immorality. The charge is, he feels, one
to which Hedonism is peculiarly exposed. "Such a theory
of life", he writes, "excites in many minds, and among
them in some of the most estimable in feeling and purpose,
inveterate dislike. To suppose that life has (as they express
it) no higher end than pleasure no better and nobler
object of desire and pursuit they designate as utterly
mean and grovelling." But, he continues, the pleasures of
the mind are no less intense than those of the body and
by men of intelligence are unanimously preferred, for it
is "an unquestionable fact that those who are equally
acquainted with, and equally capable of appreciating and
enjoying, both, do give a most marked preference to the
manner of existence which employs their higher faculties."
Mill concludes that "it is better to be a human being dis-
satisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied
than a fool satisfied." Possibly; possibly not. The
questions at issue fall appropriately to be considered in
connection with the discussion of Hedonism, which it is
proposed to undertake in a later chapter 1 and cannot,
therefore, be pursued here.
Hedonism in Practice. It is sufficient for our present
purpose to observe that whether Mill be right or wrong
in theory, most hedonists have, so far as their practice is
concerned, proved him to be wrong. Whether it is because
the bodily pleasures are the most obvious and the demand
for them the most clamant, ofwhether it is that the appetite
1 See Chapter^ IX, pp. 330-332 and XI, pp. 396-415.