A notable motif that runs throughout “Utilitarianism” is the metaphorical treatment of ideas as plants or trees. This motif uses the structure of a plant, which sends roots down into the earth while growing upwards, as a model for understanding the structure of ideas. When describing the relationship between science and philosophy, Mill writes:
The truths which are ultimately accepted as the first principles of a science are really the last results of metaphysical analysis practiced on the elementary notions with which the science is conversant; and their relation to the science is not that of foundations to an edifice, but of roots to a tree, which may perform their office equally well though they be never dug down to and exposed to light.
Science, for Mill, is an inductive process, as observations about particular phenomena are used by scientists to develop a general theory. Here, he imagines the “first principles”—or major theories—of science as “the roots to a tree.” Though these theories might, like roots of a tree, anchor science, they are not its “foundation,” as they do not precede the specific, empirical observations that define science. In contrast, Mill imagines philosophy as a deductive process, insofar as theories are drawn first and then applied to specific phenomena.
Later, when outlining the distinction between “will” and “desire,” Mill revisits the motif of plants and roots:
Will, the active phenomenon, is a different thing from desire, the state of passive sensibility, and, though originally an offshoot from it, may in time take root and detach itself from the parent stock, so much so that in the case of a habitual purpose, instead of willing the thing because we desire it, we often desire it only because we will it.
Here, Mill addresses a hypothetical critic who might argue that people might “will” or choose things that they do not truly “desire.” Mill insists that this is no problem for utilitarian philosophy. First, he claims that will is originally an “offshoot,” or a side-branch, of desire. However, due to the circumstances of an individual's life, their will might “take root and detach itself from the parent stock.” Here, then, Mill uses this botanical motif to argue that the bad habits or customs of an individual’s life might engrain in them a will for things that they do not truly desire.
A notable motif that runs throughout “Utilitarianism” is the metaphorical treatment of ideas as plants or trees. This motif uses the structure of a plant, which sends roots down into the earth while growing upwards, as a model for understanding the structure of ideas. When describing the relationship between science and philosophy, Mill writes:
The truths which are ultimately accepted as the first principles of a science are really the last results of metaphysical analysis practiced on the elementary notions with which the science is conversant; and their relation to the science is not that of foundations to an edifice, but of roots to a tree, which may perform their office equally well though they be never dug down to and exposed to light.
Science, for Mill, is an inductive process, as observations about particular phenomena are used by scientists to develop a general theory. Here, he imagines the “first principles”—or major theories—of science as “the roots to a tree.” Though these theories might, like roots of a tree, anchor science, they are not its “foundation,” as they do not precede the specific, empirical observations that define science. In contrast, Mill imagines philosophy as a deductive process, insofar as theories are drawn first and then applied to specific phenomena.
Later, when outlining the distinction between “will” and “desire,” Mill revisits the motif of plants and roots:
Will, the active phenomenon, is a different thing from desire, the state of passive sensibility, and, though originally an offshoot from it, may in time take root and detach itself from the parent stock, so much so that in the case of a habitual purpose, instead of willing the thing because we desire it, we often desire it only because we will it.
Here, Mill addresses a hypothetical critic who might argue that people might “will” or choose things that they do not truly “desire.” Mill insists that this is no problem for utilitarian philosophy. First, he claims that will is originally an “offshoot,” or a side-branch, of desire. However, due to the circumstances of an individual's life, their will might “take root and detach itself from the parent stock.” Here, then, Mill uses this botanical motif to argue that the bad habits or customs of an individual’s life might engrain in them a will for things that they do not truly desire.
