Utilitarianism: For and AgainstTwo 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. |
Contents
Introductory | 3 |
Actutilitarianism and ruleutilitarianism | 9 |
Hedonistic and nonhedonistic utilitarianism | 12 |
Average happiness versus total happiness 27 | 28 |
Rightness and wrongness of actions | 30 |
The place of rules in actutilitarianism | 42 |
Simple application of gametheory technique | 57 |
Utilitarianism and the future | 62 |
Introductory | 77 |
The structure of consequentialism | 82 |
and two examples | 93 |
Two kinds of remoter effect | 100 |
Integrity | 108 |
The indirect pursuit of utility | 118 |
Social choice | 135 |
Bibliography ISI J J C SMART | 152 |
Common terms and phrases
act-utilitarianism affairs agent alternative answer appeal argument attitude benevolence Bentham calculation causal concerned conflict consequentialism consequentialist consider consists contented course of action deontological deontological ethics direct utilitarian disagreement discussion distinction doctrine effect electrode operator evaluation fact feelings G. E. Moore Gorovitz happiness hedonistic human important intrinsic value involved irrational J. J. C. SMART J. S. Mill Jim's least London matter maximizing McCloskey merely meta-ethics mixed strategy moral Negative utilitarianism ness non-cognitivist non-consequentialist non-utilitarian normative ethics notion objection one's optimific outcome particular perhaps person Philosophical pleasure point of view possible preferences premiss probability projects pushpin question R. M. Hare rational reason regard reply right action right thing rule rule-utilitarianism seems sense sentient Sir David Ross Smart social decision society sort suppose tarianism theory thought tion total situations ultimate University Press utili utilitarian ethics utilitarian point utilitarian principle wrong