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Utilitarianism
Edited by Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer, “the acknowledged heirs of the founders of utilitarianism” (Jeff McMahan), the Norton Library edition of Utilitarianism features the complete text of the seventh (1879) edition, preceded by a thorough introduction to the work’s historical and intellectual contexts.Extensive endnotes clarify obscure terms and provide detailed analysis of the most philosophically significant passages, helping students to understand and critically engage with “the most famous defense of the utilitarian view ever written” (Geoffrey Scarre).
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Mill's Utilitarianism
Briefly: Mill's Utilitarianism is a summarized version of John Stuart Mill's original treatise, which is designed to assist university and sixth-form students in acquiring knowledge and understanding of this key text. Based on, and page referenced to, George Sher's Hackett edition an important feature of the book is its close adherence to Mill's text, enabling the reader to follow each development in the argument as it occurs.It will be of particular value in helping students to revise for university examinations in Philosophy and Theology and for A-level examinations in Religious Studies.The introduction contains a brief biography of Mill, examines and assesses the importance of the main issues covered by his Utilitarianism, and indicates where they are to be found in the text.There is a comprehensive glossary of terms.
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Utilitarianism and Other Essays
One of the most important nineteenth-century schools of thought, Utilitarianism propounds the view that the value or rightness of an action rests in how well it promotes the welfare of those affected by it, aiming for 'the greatest happiness of the greatest number'.Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the movement's founder, as much a social reformer as a philosopher.His greatest interpreter, John Stuart Mill (1806-73), set out to humanize Bentham's pragmatic Utilitarianism by balancing the claims of reason and the imagination, individuality and social well-being in essays such as 'Bentham', 'Coleridge' and, above all, Utilitarianism.The works by Bentham and Mill collected in this volume show the creation and development of a system of ethics that has had an enduring influence on moral philosophy and legislative policy.
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Utilitarianism : For and Against
Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by J.J. C. Smart and Bernard Williams. In the first part of the book Professor Smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism; he tries to formulate a consistent and persuasive elaboration of the doctrine that the rightness and wrongness of actions is determined solely by their consequences, and in particular their consequences for the sum total of human happiness.In Part II Bernard Williams offers a sustained and vigorous critique of utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.He finds inadequate the theory of action implied by utilitarianism, and he argues that utilitarianism fails to engage at a serious level with the real problems of moral and political philosophy, and fails to make sense of notions such as integrity, or even human happiness itself.This book should be of interest to welfare economists, political scientists and decision-theorists.
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What is utilitarianism and what is preference utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism is a moral theory that holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being. It is based on the principle of seeking the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Preference utilitarianism is a specific form of utilitarianism that focuses on maximizing the satisfaction of individuals' preferences or desires. This means that the best action is the one that leads to the fulfillment of the most preferences or desires, rather than simply maximizing overall happiness. Preference utilitarianism takes into account the diversity of individual preferences and aims to promote the most overall satisfaction among individuals.
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Which problems of Bentham's act utilitarianism can rule utilitarianism solve?
Rule utilitarianism can address some of the problems of Bentham's act utilitarianism, such as the issue of complexity in calculating the consequences of individual actions. By focusing on following general rules that promote overall well-being, rule utilitarianism provides a more practical and efficient way to make ethical decisions. Additionally, rule utilitarianism can help prevent the problem of sacrificing individual rights or values for the greater good, as it emphasizes the importance of adhering to rules that have been shown to maximize overall happiness in the long run.
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What is the difference between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism?
Act utilitarianism focuses on determining the rightness or wrongness of individual actions based on the principle of maximizing overall happiness in a specific situation. In contrast, rule utilitarianism emphasizes following general rules or principles that, when consistently applied, lead to the greatest overall happiness for society. While act utilitarianism evaluates each action on a case-by-case basis, rule utilitarianism looks at the consequences of following certain rules or principles in general.
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What problems of Bentham's act utilitarianism can rule utilitarianism solve?
One problem with Bentham's act utilitarianism is that it can be difficult to predict the consequences of individual actions in complex situations. Rule utilitarianism addresses this issue by focusing on the overall consequences of following general rules or principles. Additionally, act utilitarianism can lead to situations where individuals are required to make morally questionable decisions if it maximizes utility in a specific case, whereas rule utilitarianism provides a framework for making decisions based on established rules that have been shown to maximize overall utility. Overall, rule utilitarianism provides a more practical and consistent approach to ethical decision-making compared to act utilitarianism.
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On Liberty, Utilitarianism and Other Essays
'it is only the cultivation of individuality which produces, or can produce, well developed human beings'Mill's four essays, 'On Liberty', 'Utilitarianism', 'Considerations on Representative Government', and 'The Subjection of Women' examine the most central issues that face liberal democratic regimes - whether in the nineteenth century or the twenty-first.They have formed the basis for many of the political institutions of the West since the late nineteenth century, tackling as they do the appropriate grounds for protecting individual liberty, the basic principles of ethics, the benefits and the costs of representative institutions, and the central importance of gender equality in society. These essays are central to the liberal tradition, but their interpretation and how we should understand their connection with each other are both contentious.In their introduction Mark Philp and Frederick Rosen set the essays in the context of Mill's other works, and argue that his conviction in the importance of the development of human character in its full diversity provides the core to his liberalism and to any defensible account of the value of liberalism to the modern world. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe.Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Mill on Utilitarianism
Mill was one of the most important British philosophers of the nineteenth century; his Utilitarianism is a pivotal work in ethical thought.This book, written specifically for students coming to Mill - and perhaps philosophy - for the first time, will be an ideal guide. Mill on Utilitarianism introduces and assesses:* Mill's life and the background of Utilitarianism* the ideas and text of Utilitarianism* the continuing importance of Mill's work to philosophyThis is the first book dedicated to Utilitarianism itself.Concisely written and engaging, it is perfect reading for those studying Mill or moral philosophy.
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An Analysis of John Stuart Mills's Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill’s 1861 Utilitarianism remains one of the most widely known and influential works of moral philosophy ever written.It is also a model of critical thinking – one in which Mill’s reasoning and interpretation skills are used to create a well-structured, watertight, persuasive argument for his position on core questions in ethics.The central question, for Mill, was to decide upon a valid definition of right and wrong, and reason out his moral theory from there.Laying down valid, defensible definitions is a crucial aspect of good interpretative thinking, and Mill gets his in as early as possible.Actions are good, he suggests, if they increase happiness, and bad if they reduce happiness.But, vitally, it is not our own happiness that matters, but the total happiness of all those affected by a given action.From this interpretation of moral good, Mill is able to systematically reason out a coherent framework for calculating and judging overall happiness, while considering different kinds and qualities of happiness. Like any good example of reasoning, Mill’s argument consistently takes account of possible objections, building them into the structure of the book in order to acknowledge and counter them as he goes.
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Should We Maximize Utility? : A Debate about Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism directs us to act in ways that impartially maximize welfare or utility or at least aim to do that.Some find this view highly compelling. Others object that it has intuitively repugnant results; that it condones evildoing and injustice; that it is excessively imposing and controlling; that it is alienating; and that it fails to offer meaningful practical guidance. In this ‘Little Debates’ volume, James Lenman argues that utilitarianism’s directive to improve the whole universe on a cosmic time scale is apt to lead it down a path of imperious moral overreach.The project, he further maintains, ultimately shipwrecks on an extreme lack of epistemic humility in framing the determinants of what is morally right and wrong beyond the limits of what we can ever hope to know.Utilitarianism thus leaves us morally clueless. In contrast, Ben Bramble seeks to develop and defend an original form of utilitarianism, less vulnerable than other, more familiar versions to a number of important objections, including those raised by Lenman.He aims to avoid such unappealing results by presenting it as a claim about what we have the most reason to do, and not as a theory of right action, which Bramble urges we should understand quite differently by reference to what would motivate virtuous people. Key Features:Focuses on one of the dominant ethical theories debated by moral philosophers todayClearly written, free of jargon and technicality, and highly accessible to studentsAddresses questions of great importance to anyone wishing to grow in understanding of human moral lifeProvides a glossary of key terms highlighted in bold as well as a bibliography for further readingImportant issues discussed include: welfare; value; right action; virtue; impartiality; obligations to non-human animals; the badness of human extinction; the happiness of future people; the ethics of climate change; the long term future; and the moral significance of the limits to what we can know.
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What is the difference between act utilitarianism and quantitative utilitarianism?
Act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions, evaluating each action based on its specific outcome and choosing the action that produces the greatest overall happiness. On the other hand, quantitative utilitarianism emphasizes the overall quantity of happiness or pleasure produced by a particular action or decision, without necessarily considering the specific consequences of each individual action. In other words, act utilitarianism looks at the specific consequences of each action, while quantitative utilitarianism focuses on the overall amount of happiness or pleasure generated by a decision or action.
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What is preference utilitarianism?
Preference utilitarianism is a form of utilitarianism that focuses on maximizing overall happiness by fulfilling individuals' preferences or desires. It holds that the best action is the one that satisfies the most preferences or desires of the individuals involved. This approach emphasizes the importance of respecting and promoting the autonomy and agency of individuals, as it prioritizes the satisfaction of their subjective preferences rather than imposing an external standard of what is good for them. Preference utilitarianism seeks to create the greatest overall well-being by taking into account the diverse and subjective nature of individual preferences.
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Can you explain utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism is a moral and ethical theory that focuses on the idea of maximizing overall happiness and well-being. It suggests that the best action is the one that produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism is often associated with the principle of "the greatest good for the greatest number" and emphasizes the importance of considering the consequences of actions in determining their moral worth. This theory is often used to evaluate and make decisions in various fields, including ethics, politics, and economics.
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How is utilitarianism doing?
Utilitarianism continues to be a prominent ethical theory, with its focus on maximizing overall happiness and well-being. It has influenced various fields such as economics, public policy, and environmental ethics. However, it also faces criticism for its potential to overlook individual rights and justice in the pursuit of the greatest good for the greatest number. Overall, utilitarianism remains a relevant and influential ethical framework, but it is also subject to ongoing debate and scrutiny.
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