The Utility of Religious Illusion: A Critique of J.S. Mill's Religion of Humanity

Autor:	Lou Matz
Rok vydání:	2000
Předmět:	Philosophy Religion of Humanity Sociology and Political Science media_common.quotation_subject Illusion Mill Environmental ethics Sociology Religious studies media_common
Zdroj:	Utilitas. 12:137-154
ISSN:	1741-6183 0953-8208
DOI:	10.1017/s0953820800002752
Popis:	In ‘Utility of Religion’, Mill argues that a wholly naturalistic religion of humanity would promote individual and social welfare better than supernatural religions like Christianity; in ‘Theism’, however, Mill defends the salutary effects of hope in an afterlife. While commentators have acknowledged this discrepancy, they have not examined the utilitarian value of what Mill terms ‘illusions’. In this essay, I explain Mill's case against the utility of supernatural religious belief and then argue that Mill cannot dismiss the utility of hope in an ultimate justice since it need not pervert the intellect or morality. There are thus utilitarian grounds to support some supernatural illusions, which undermines Mill's defence of an exclusively naturalistic religion. I conclude with the suggestion that while the utility of religious belief leads Mill toward William James's view, they disagree about whether supernatural religious sentiment has any unique, intrinsic force.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::18bf85375fb3115b5c03434104ed034f https://doi.org/10.1017/s0953820800002752 Zobrazit plný text záznamu