Will, Utilitarianism, Phenomenalism

The similarity of Mill's thesis 'To be valuable is to be valued' to Berkeley's 'To be is to be perceived' suggests that Utilitarianism involves an application of Phenomenalism. Accordingly, just as a Coherence Theory of Truth is the criterion of a non-representational cognition, such as a Phenomenon, the Utilitarian 'greatest happiness of the greatest number' principle is a Coherence Theory of the Good for non-representational valuation. In particular, just as Berkeley denies the Lockeian thesis that primary qualities exist in nature independently of a percipient, Mill denies the Lockeian thesis that Freedom is an intrinsic natural Good, i. e. that it has value independent of a valuer. Hence, the Utilitarian valuelessness of Will, the experiential source of Freedom, is, at least in part, a reflection of Mill's Phenomenalist orientation.