Utilitarianism Explained and Exemplified in Moral and Political Government

This 1864 work critiques John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism from a Christian perspective, applying it to contemporary political and moral problems.

Charles Tennant (Author)

9781108071420, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 March 2014

476 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.6 kg

A founder in 1830 of the National Colonization Society, Charles Tennant (1796–1873) advocated government support for emigration to Britain's colonies as a means of alleviating poverty at home and boosting the workforce overseas. Briefly representing St Albans in Parliament, he later wrote treatises on contemporary political and financial questions, notably arguing for the abolition of income tax in The People's Blue Book (1857). Also published anonymously, the present work, which appeared in 1864, offers a critique of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism (1863). Tennant argues that happiness does not consist in utility, but rather in conformity to divine will as described by the Christian faith. Nevertheless, Tennant says, we ought to promote utility, as this is likely to be conducive to happiness. He then applies this view in detail to contemporary problems of government, domestic policy, taxation, colonies, dependencies, and foreign policy.

Note from the author
1. General remarks
2. What utilitarianism is
3. Utilitarianism: its sanctions
4. Utilitarianism: how proved
5. Utilitarianism: how connected with justice
6. Fallacies of the utilitarians
7. Happiness: the ultimate end
8. Utility: applied to governments
9. Utility: applied to domestic policy
10. Utility: applied to taxation
11. Utility: applied to colonies and dependencies
12. Utility: applied to foreign policy
Conclusion
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS]