|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
Book Description
What is the foundation upon which moral judgements are made? Why and how do we conclude that an action, performed or contemplated, is right or wrong, good or bad? In the eighteenth century, English philosopher Jeremy Bentham developed the now famous moral theory known as utilitarianism, which is based upon the pleasure principle - a concept whose history can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus and to Hedonism.In his acclaimed essay "Utilitarianism" (1863), John Stuart Mill, the intellectual creation of his father (James Mill) and Jeremy Bentham, discusses in considerable detail this powerful and influential principle that grounds the judgement of human action on the extent to which it would result in pleasure or happiness for the greatest number of people. In doing so, Mill not only analysis objections to the principle of utility, but also distinguishes his own unique interpretation of the principle, thus beginning a self-critical approach to the development and refinement of utilitarian moral theory that remains vigorous to this day.
From the Publisher
Library of Liberal Arts title.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
There are few circumstances among those which make up the present condition of human knowledge more unlike what might have been expected, or more significant of the backward state in which speculation on the most important subjects still lingers, than the little progress which has been made in the decision of the controversy respecting the criterion of right and wrong. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
There are few circumstances among those which make up the present condition of human knowledge more unlike what might have been expected, or more significant of the backward state in which speculation on the most important subjects still lingers, than the little progress which has been made in the decision of the controversy respecting the criterion of right and wrong. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
rightly called a great book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Utilitarianism (Paperback)
_Utilitarianism_ is, despite the train-wreck of the fourth chapter, one of the clearest expositions of ethical theory ever written. Anyone interested in ethics in general, or utilitarianism in particular, should be familiar with it. But then, you already knew that.As far as specifics regarding this edition: It is offered without introduction, conclusion, analytical remarks, historical context, or any of the other chaff that tends to build up around great texts. I find this refreshing; some may find it disappointing. Unfortunately, like all the books I've ever bought from the Prometheus press, it is very poorly bound. On the other hand, because this little volume is so slim (<100 pages), it is at lesser risk of falling apart, or loosing pages. If you want to read Mill in a solid, cheap edition, this copy is perfect. If you want an edition that will not crumble to powder within the next 60 years, look elsewhere.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews) 39 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Utilitarian = Happiness for All,
By Dr B Leland Baker - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
John Stuart Mill was one of the most influential British philosophers and writers in the 1800s. His treatise on utilitarianism was written to explain the philosophical concept because he stated that it had been misutilized or mischaracterized by numerous influential people of his time. This version of his writings includes:Chapter 1. General Remarks Chapter 2. What utilitarianism is Chapter 3. Of the ultimate sanction of the principle of utility Chapter 4. Of what sort of proof the principle of utility is susceptible Chapter 5. Of the connexion between justice and utility While much of his writing can be lengthy and occasionally difficult to understand, I find his written arguments contribute greatly to the development of logical thought. Perhaps my favorite quote from John Stuart Mill is "In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility. To do as you would be done by, and to love your neighbor as yourself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality." And that ... "Happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct, is not the agent's own happiness, but that of all concerned." This is a great introduction to utilitarianism and use of logic. 14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Got me thinking,
By Jeffrey Van Wagoner - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This is my first reading of anything by Mill. This book is on several lists of great works and I can clearly understand why it is. The author is explaining the theory of utility that attempts to explain the difference between good and bad, and justice and injustice. He explained his theory clearly and covered several difficult points in an elegant manner. This book is quite short, and it is amazing what he covered in such a concise, yet powerful manner.This is the free kindle edition and it worked out great for me. It has no table of contents or links, but in this short work I didn't find them necessary. The built in dictionary in the kindle came in handy since Mill used several words that I hadn't seen before. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in philosophy. I'll have to read more of Mill's works. 17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant introduction to preliminary thoughts on utilitarianism.,
By Robert W. Smith "Robert Smith, Ph.D." - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
JS Mill being one of the most brilliant thinkers of the 19th century posits his view of the moral philosophy of utilitarianism. While cutting edge in its day / 150 years later we have had the benefit of dozens of additional philosophers of morality and political science. Stimulating to read for the concepts and examples. The average sentence consists of 8 dependent clauses and 100 words. While lengthy and complex arguments are offered / each is structurally sound. Outstanding reading that merits a solid A. It is highly recommended that you reread this book every decade or so to gain additional insights.
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
