A PERFECTIONIST UTILITARIAN

THE IDIOSYNCRATIC UTILITY OF J.S. MILL

Abstract

Against most contemporary interpretations, the present article argues that a
comprehensive conception of the good permeates Millian utilitarianism. Yet, revealing
the perfectionist components which comprise his approach does not result to the
disintegration of Mill’s theory. If this line of argumentation describes accurately one of
the most celebrated liberals, this could strengthen liberal perfectionism’s position. If I am
right that anti-perfectionist arguments stemming from traditional and revisionist
approaches are mistaken and Mill advances a cogent perfectionist strategy, this could
enhance a marginalized view of liberalism that can offer much more to the appeal of
liberal values than it actually does.