Understanding Utilitarianism (Understanding Movements in Modern Thought) - Softcover

Mulgan, Tim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844650901 ISBN 13: 9781844650903

Publisher: Routledge, 2007

Synopsis

Utilitarianism - a philosophy based on the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people - has been hugely influential over the past two centuries. Beyond ethics or morality, utilitarian assumptions and arguments abound in modern economic and political life, especially in public policy. An understanding of utilitarianism is indeed essential to any understanding of contemporary society. "Understanding Utilitarianism" presents utilitarianism very much as a living tradition. The book begins with a summary of the classical utilitarianism of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Subsequent chapters trace the development of the central themes of utilitarian thought over the twentieth century, covering such questions as: What is happiness? Is happiness the only valuable thing? Is utilitarianism about acts or rules or institutions? Is utilitarianism unjust, or implausibly demanding, or impractical? and Where might utilitarianism go in the future?

About this title

About the Author

Tim Mulgan is professor of moral and political philosophy, University of St-Andrews.

Review

"A superb book, wonderfully engaging, philosophically up-to-date and sophisticated. The book has too many virtues to list them all, but what stands out are: just the right amount of historical information to make philosophers real people; splendidly clear and revealing examples; clarity in treating the objections to utilitarianism; and just the right amount of analysis of the arguments on the issues." - Brad Hooker, Professor of Philosophy, University of Reading"

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1844650901
• ISBN 13: 9781844650903
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200