The Cambridge Companion to Utilitarianism (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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Book Description

In both moral philosophy and political thought, utilitarianism, which is an approach to ethics that is based on the maximization of overall well-being, continues to have a great deal of traction. This companion provides a methodical investigation into its history as well as its themes and various applications. Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Henry Sidgwick, and a few others are some of the authors whose works are used to document the beginnings and evolution of the utilitarian philosophy. After that, the book examines a variety of issues regarding the formulation of utilitarianism, such as act utilitarianism versus rule utilitarianism, actual consequences versus expected consequences, and objective theories of well-being versus subjective theories. Following this, utilitarianism is discussed in light of Kantianism and virtue ethics, and the possibility of a clash between utilitarianism and fairness is examined. Finally, the book investigates the continued importance of utilitarianism in today's world by analyzing the theoretical and practical ramifications of utilitarianism for contemporary debates over issues such as global warming and armed conflict. Those who are interested in studying moral philosophy, political philosophy, political theory, and the history of ideas will find this volume to be an invaluable resource.