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ORDINARY MEETING, April 15, 1867. 
The Rey. Walter Mitchell, Yice-Peesident, in the Chair. 
The minutes of the previous Meeting having been read and confirmed, 
the following Paper was then read : — 
ON UTILITARIANISM. By James Reddie, Esq., Non. Sec , 
Viet. Inst . 
T HE theory of Utilitarianism could have had no more able 
champion in our day than Mr. John Stuart Mill, and yet 
some of his most favourable critics have observed that he has 
rather apologized for it, and explained away its most objection- 
able features, than ventured upon its rigid vindication. Mr. 
Mill would probably not admit this description of his treatise 
to be correct ; but, as a frank opponent of the theory, I can 
only say that I trust that those who have any doubts upon the 
subject will read and carefully study the book for themselves. 
I do not anticipate that it will make any converts to Utili- 
tarianism. It will be found very full of startling propositions; 
and its admissions and qualifications will most probably drive 
most of its readers to the conclusion that some more simple 
and intelligible (( foundation of morality " is requisite than 
c: the utilitarian or happiness theory.*' Mr. Mill believes, 
however, that it is the very imperfect notion which people 
have of the utilitarian formula that is the chief obstacle which 
impedes its reception ; and he commences his explanation of 
“ what utilitarianism is" by exposing “ the ignorant blunder 
of supposing that those who stand up for utility as the test of 
right and wrong, use the term in that restricted and merely 
colloquial sense in which utility is opposed to pleasure." He 
says, however, that the philosophical opponents of utilitarianism 
are incapable of “ so absurd a misconception," and adds that 
those who know anything about the matter are aware that 
every writer, from Epicurus to Bentham, who maintained the 
theory of utility, meant by it, not something to be contradis- 
VOL. II. K 
