The Greatest English Futilitarian

In his "English Futilitarians," H. P. Grice writes:

"The importance of happiness (eudaemonia) as an end (finis) for humans (homo) has long been recognized."

"Forms of hedonism were put forward by Aristippus and Epicurus."

"And nobody put them backward."

"Aristotle, as my tutor Hardie used to tutor me on, at Corpus, argued that eudaemonia is the indeed highest human good."

"This did not please my master, J. L. Austin."

"Austin disagreed with Prichard about 'to agathon' and 'eudaemonia.'"

"But The Master tended to fastidiousness."

"Augustine, from which the surname "Austin" derives, wrote that "all men agree in desiring the last end, which is happiness.""

"But he was a saint, so Urmson would suggest that we ignore him."

"Happiness was also explored in depth by Aquinas."

"Another saint, equally ignorable."

"Different varieties of consequentialism also existed in the ancient and medieval world, like the state consequentialism of Mohism or the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, an Italian."

"Mohist consequentialism advocated communitarian moral goods including political stability, population growth, and wealth, but did not support the utilitarian notion of maximizing individual happiness."

"Utilitarianism as a distinct ethical position only emerged in the eighteenth century."

"My father was a non-conformist, which relates."