B. Quality of Pleasure
1. Bentham was qualitatively neutral, insisting that the quantity not the quality of pleasure is important.
2. Mill though argued that quality is important and that intellectual pleasures are intrinsically superior to sensual ones: “Now 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. Few human creatures would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals, for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beast’s pleasures; no intelligent human being would consent to be a fool, not instructed person would be an ignoramus, no person of feeling and conscience would be selfish and base, even though they should be persuaded that the fool, the dance, or the rascal is better satisfied with his lot than they are with their. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied, better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question. The other part to the comparison knows both sides.” (Utilitarianism, ch. II)
