Routledge Revivals: The Greatest Happiness Principle (1986): An Examination of Utilitarianism

ISBN-13: 9780815362340 / Angielski / Twarda / 2017 / 344 str.

Lanny O. Ebenstein

Opis

First published in 1991, The Greatest Happiness Principle traces the history of the theory of utility, starting with the Bible, and running through Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus. It goes on to discuss the utilitarian theories of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill in detail, commenting on the latter's view of the Christianity of his day and his optimal socialist society. The book argues that the key theory of utility is fundamentally concerned with happiness, stating that happiness has largely been left out of discussions of utility. It also goes on to argue that utility can be used as a moral theory, ultimately posing the question, what is happiness?

Spis treści

Introduction  1. Happiness in the Bible  2. The Role of Happiness in Plato and Aristotle  3. Epicurus  4. Bentham’s Theory of Utility  5. John Rawls’ Non-Utilitarian Theory  6. A New Theory of Utility  Appendices  A. Utility and Justice  B: Henry Sidgwick’s Utilitarian Contributions  C. Comments on Various Utilitarian Writers  D. Glimpses of a Utilitarian Future  E. Free Will and Determinism  F. Teleologism-Deontologism, Consequentialism-Non-Consequentialism  G. Why Happiness  Bibliography  Supplementary Materials:   "Mill’s Theory of Utility"  Mill’s "Quality"  Sidgwick’s Ethics

O autorze

Lanny Ebenstein