"Utilitarianism, without a theory of value – a way of saying what is regarded as the desirable end, and why – is an empty and useless game." Utilitarianism, if

"Utilitarianism, without a theory of value – a way of saying what is regarded as the desirable end, and why – is an empty and useless game." Utilitarianism, if I've read Mill correctly, does state that minimising suffering and maximising happiness is doing good. So it has its theory of value right there, built in. Stating that "X without Y is just a Z" isn't very insightful. A brush without bristles is just a stick. Ok, So what? Furthermore, the "and why" part of the statement implies that there exist universally acceptable reasons why anything should be worthwhile which is arguably nonsense. I'd say it is an "empty and useless game" regardless of any theory of value, but we choose to play it anyway.