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One of Mill’s most influential essays, 1861’s “Utilitarianism” is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand modern ethics, concepts of justice, and personal philosophy. In casual but powerful language, Mill explains the simple yet profound idea that maximizing human happiness, on both a personal and societal scale, must be the ultimate goal of all our thoughts and acts. How do we define “happiness,” and how do we put this scheme into motion? Mill examines these questions and others in one of the most provocative examinations of human motivations ever written.
English philosopher and politician JOHN STUART MILL (1806–1873) was one of the foremost figure of Western intellectual thought in the late 19th century. He served as an administrator in the East Indian Company from 1823 to 1858, and as a member of parliament from 1865 to 1868. Among his essays on a wide range of political and social thought are Principles of Political Economy (1848), Considerations on Representative Government (1861), and The Subjection of Women (1869).
This expanded edition of John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism includes the text of his 1868 speech to the British House of Commons defending the use of capital punishment in cases of aggravated murder. The speech is significant both because its topic remains timely and because its arguments illustrate the applicability of the principle of utility to questions of large-scale social policy.
| Editor's Introduction | ||
| Selected Bibliography | ||
| Ch. I | General Remarks | 1 |
| Ch. II | What Utilitarianism Is | 6 |
| Ch. III | Of the Ultimate Sanction of the Principle of Utility | 27 |
| Ch. IV | Of What Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is Susceptible | 35 |
| Ch. V | On the Connection between Justice and Utility | 42 |
| App | April 1868 Speech on Capital Punishment | 65 |
Quite simply put, Utilitarianism looks at ethics from an objective, rational standpoint. It ounlines the goal of morality, then shows how its principle best achieves that goal. Brilliant.
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Posted August 5, 2006
I particularly enjoy the speech that Mill gave in 1868 on capital punishment. He explains why we should allow capital punishment to be use in cases of where the crime has resulted in a life being taken as oppose to the cases where the crime is against personal property. But to confine an individual to a life sentence and have that individual go through life with the possible guilt of the crime that he has just commited is more inhuman than a quick death. As far as his statement on Utilitarianism (borrowed from Jeremy Bentham) goes, he covers almost every type of critcism that will come this way of that belief. Just like Socrates, Mill considers the intellectual pleasures far more enjoyable (and meaningful) than those that take the physical form. A must read for all those that concern themselves with trying to attain a state of happiness.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 20, 2002
This is a great version of Utilitarianism due to the summary in the beginning along with index passages in the back that explain difficult sections. I used this version for my students and I believed it helped them and me as well.
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Overview
Is there a basis for morality and human freedom independent of religious dogma? This great question, which still perplexes us today, was passionately explored by John Stuart Mill in the mid 19th century... and the answers Mill found continue to intrigue.One of Mill’s most influential essays, 1861’s “Utilitarianism” is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand modern ethics, concepts of justice, and personal philosophy. In casual but powerful language, Mill explains the simple yet profound idea that maximizing human happiness, on both a personal and societal scale, must be the ultimate goal of all our thoughts and acts. How do we define “happiness,” and how do we put this scheme ...