Utilitarianism
Title | Utilitarianism PDF eBook |
Author | John Stuart Mill |
Publisher | GRIN Verlag |
Pages | 86 |
Release | 2008 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 3640234944 |
Classic from the year 2008 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the 19th Century, - entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: First published in 1861. There are few circumstances among those which make up the present condition of human knowledge, more unlike what might have been expected, or more significant of the backward state in which speculation on the most important subjects still lingers, than the little progress which has been made in the decision of the controversy respecting the criterion of right and wrong. From the dawn of philosophy, the question concerning the summum bonum, or, what is the same thing, concerning the foundation of morality, has been accounted the main problem in speculative thought, has occupied the most gifted intellects, and divided them into sects and schools, carrying on a vigorous warfare against one another. And after more than two thousand years the same discussions continue, philosophers are still ranged under the same contending banners, and neither thinkers nor mankind at large seem nearer to being unanimous on the subject, than when the youth Socrates listened to the old Protagoras, and asserted (if Plato's dialogue be grounded on a real conversation) the theory of utilitarianism against the popular morality of the so-called sophist. ...]
Utilitarianism, Institutions, and Justice
Title | Utilitarianism, Institutions, and Justice PDF eBook |
Author | James Wood Bailey |
Publisher | Oxford University Press, USA |
Pages | 216 |
Release | 1997 |
Genre | Institutions (Philosophy) |
ISBN | 0195105109 |
Far from recommending cruel acts, utilitarianism, understood this way, actually runs congruent to our basic moral intuitions.
Taking Utilitarianism Seriously
Title | Taking Utilitarianism Seriously PDF eBook |
Author | Christopher Woodard |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 256 |
Release | 2019-08-29 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 019104699X |
Utilitarianism is the idea that ethics is ultimately about what makes people's lives go better. While utilitarian ideas remain highly influential in politics and culture, they are subject to many well-developed philosophical criticisms, such as the claim that utilitarianism requires too much of us and the view that it does not respect individuals' rights. The theory is widely thought by philosophers to be the least plausible form of consequentialism, hampered by its excessive simplicity. In Taking Utilitarianism Seriously, Christopher Woodard argues that it is not defeated by the standard objections. He presents a new and rich version of utilitarianism that can answer all six commons objections plausibly and, in doing so, launches a state-of-the-art defence of the utilitarian tradition, which has greater resources than its critics have often assumed. Far from being excessively simple, utilitarianism is able to account for much of the complexity and nuance of everyday ethical thought. And rather than being quickly dismissed, utilitarian approaches to moral and political philosophy are due for renewed development and discussion.
The Cambridge Companion to Utilitarianism
Title | The Cambridge Companion to Utilitarianism PDF eBook |
Author | Ben Eggleston |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 405 |
Release | 2014-01-30 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 1139867482 |
Utilitarianism, the approach to ethics based on the maximization of overall well-being, continues to have great traction in moral philosophy and political thought. This Companion offers a systematic exploration of its history, themes, and applications. First, it traces the origins and development of utilitarianism via the work of Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Henry Sidgwick, and others. The volume then explores issues in the formulation of utilitarianism, including act versus rule utilitarianism, actual versus expected consequences, and objective versus subjective theories of well-being. Next, utilitarianism is positioned in relation to Kantianism and virtue ethics, and the possibility of conflict between utilitarianism and fairness is considered. Finally, the volume explores the modern relevance of utilitarianism by considering its practical implications for contemporary controversies such as military conflict and global warming. The volume will be an important resource for all those studying moral philosophy, political philosophy, political theory, and history of ideas.
Utilitarianism and Beyond
Title | Utilitarianism and Beyond PDF eBook |
Author | Amartya Sen |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 304 |
Release | 1982-06-10 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 9780521287715 |
Utilitarianism considered both as a theory of personal morality and a theory of public choice.
Utilitarianism
Title | Utilitarianism PDF eBook |
Author | Geoffrey Scarre |
Publisher | Routledge |
Pages | 234 |
Release | 2020-09-23 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 1000158829 |
Surveying the historical development and the present condition of utilitarian ethics, Geoffrey Scarre examines the major philosophers from Lao Tzu in the fifth century BC to Richard Hare in the twentieth. Utilitarianism traces the 'doctrine of utility' from the moralists of the ancient world, through the Enlightenment and Victorian utilitarianism up to the lively debate of the present day. Utilitarianism today faces challenges on several fronts: it cannot warrant the drawing of adequate protective boundaries around the essential interests of individuals, and it does not allow them the space to pursue the personal concerns which give meaning to their lives. Geoffrey Scarre considers these and other charges, and concludes that whilst utilitarianism may not be a faultless moral doctrine, its positions are relevant, and significant today. Written with undergraduates in mind, this is an ideal course book for those studying and those teaching moral philosophy.
Utilitarianism
Title | Utilitarianism PDF eBook |
Author | J. J. C. Smart |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 162 |
Release | 1973 |
Genre | Philosophy |
ISBN | 9780521098229 |
A serious and controversial work in which the authors contribute essays from opposite points of view on utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.