Final answer:
The question explores John Stuart Mill's view on higher and lower pleasures in utilitarianism, emphasizing the qualitative distinction in pleasures and Mill's belief that fulfillment from higher cognitive experiences is superior to basic sensory satisfaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses John Stuart Mill's distinction between higher pleasures and lower pleasures within his utilitarian framework. Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that aims to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Mill's contribution to utilitarianism includes a qualitative distinction between types of pleasures, where higher pleasures are associated with the exercise of our cognitive faculties, and lower pleasures are more basic sensory experiences.
Mill argued that pursuing higher pleasures, which engage our intellectual and moral capacities, is more fulfilling and characteristic of human life than the mere satisfaction of the lower pleasures.
According to Mill, the quality of pleasure affects its value, making some pleasures (those of the mind, for example) better than others (like those of the body). This qualitative aspect is what differentiates the hedonistic views of Mill from the more quantitative focus of his predecessor, Jeremy Bentham.
The idea that 'it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied' encapsulates Mill's belief that the complexity and range of human experiences offer greater fulfillment than basic sensual satisfaction, regardless of the potential for discontent these higher faculties may introduce.