Utilitarianism by Lazari-Radek, Katarzyna de -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication page Contents Preface Acknowledgements List of illustrations 1 Origins

Ancient precursors The early utilitarians The founder: Bentham The advocate: John Stuart Mill The academic philosopher: Henry Sidgwick

2 Justification

Bentham on justifying the utilitarian principle Mill’s proof Sidgwick’s proof Harsanyi’s argument from rational choice under conditions of ignorance Smart’s appeal to attitudes and feelings Hare’s universal prescriptivism Greene: arguing for utilitarianism by debunking opposing principles

3 What should we maximize?

The classical view The experience machine Preference utilitarianism Pluralist consequentialism Value beyond sentient beings Intrinsic value: the story so far What is pleasure?

4 Objections

Does utilitarianism tell us to act immorally? Measuring utility Is utilitarianism too demanding? Does utilitarianism ignore our special obligations? Ignoring ‘the separateness of persons’ The distribution of utility

5 Rules

Two forms of utilitarianism The ticking bomb Keeping it secret Is utilitarianism self-effacing?

6 Utilitarianism in action

Applying utilitarianism today End of life decisions Ethics and animals Effective altruism Population puzzles Gross national happiness

Further reading and notes on sources Index Social Media Online Catalogue German Philosophy Beauty Existentialism Keynes

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