Utilitarianism: For and Against - Hardcover

Smart, J. J. C.; Williams, Bernard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521202973 ISBN 13: 9780521202978

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1973

Synopsis

Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by J. J. C. Smart and Bernard Williams. In the first part of the book Professor Smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism; he tries to formulate a consistent and persuasive elaboration of the doctrine that the rightness and wrongness of actions is determined solely by their consequences, and in particular their consequences for the sum total of human happiness. In Part II Bernard Williams offers a sustained and vigorous critique of utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals. He finds inadequate the theory of action implied by utilitarianism, and he argues that utilitarianism fails to engage at a serious level with the real problems of moral and political philosophy, and fails to make sense of notions such as integrity, or even human happiness itself. This book should be of interest to welfare economists, political scientists and decision-theorists.

About this title

Book Description

Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by J. J. C. Smart and Bernard Williams. In the first part of the book Professor Smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism. In Part II Bernard Williams offers a sustained and vigorous critique of utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.

From the Back Cover

In the first part of the book Professor Smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism. Bernard Williams offers a sustained and vigorous critique of utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1973
• ISBN 10: 0521202973
• ISBN 13: 9780521202978
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 157