Questions: Utilitarianism, Chs. 2-4

What is Mill's argument for why we should strive for our actions to benefit the happiness of as many people possible?
• Mill's writing nearly a century before us, in a different country: should we believe this argument is still valid?
• Does Mill mean that a person must continually take a global perspective in mind when they act?
• Is there a conflict between the rights of others and our action for the sake of others (17)?

How does Mill respond to the critique that, due to the limitations of our knowledge and powers, we cannot be certain what effects our actions will produce--and therefore cannot calculate how to act?

Why is Mill using the word sanction in such a funny way?

Why is Mill asking about the sanction for utilitarianism?
Why does he belabor his treatment of the internal sanction?
Does he think this internal sanction is part of human nature? Is this a problem?

If virtue, or disinterested moral action, could not be integrated into utilitarianism, would this be an obstacle to the "proof" of its principle?