The Cambridge Companion to Utilitarianism (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781107656710)

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.

Author: Ben Eggleston
ISBN-10: 1107656710
ISBN-13: 9781107656710
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 01/30/2014
Pages: 406
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.30lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 11/01/2014 pg. 458