The Cambridge Companion to Utilitarianism

The book offers a comprehensive overview of one of the most important and frequently discussed accounts of morality.

Ben Eggleston (Edited by), Dale E. Miller (Edited by)

9781107020139, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 January 2014

406 pages
23.1 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.71 kg

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.

Introduction Ben Eggleston and Dale E. Miller
1. Utilitarianism before Bentham Colin Heydt
2. Bentham and utilitarianism in the early nineteenth century James E. Crimmins
3. Mill and utilitarianism in the mid nineteenth century Henry R. West
4. Sidgwick and utilitarianism in the late nineteenth century Roger Crisp
5. Utilitarianism in the twentieth century Krister Bykvist
6. Act utilitarianism Ben Eggleston
7. Rule utilitarianism Dale E. Miller
8. Global utilitarianism Julia Driver
9. Objectivism, subjectivism, and prospectivism Elinor Mason
10. Subjective theories of well-being Chris Heathwood
11. Objective theories of well-being Ben Bradley
12. Kantian ethics and utilitarianism Jens Timmermann
13. What virtue ethics can learn from utilitarianism Daniel C. Russell
14. Utilitarianism and fairness Brad Hooker
15. Utilitarianism and the ethics of war William H. Shaw
16. Utilitarianism and our obligations to future people Tim Mulgan.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy [HP]