Introduction to Utilitarianism

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A concise, accessible, and engaging introduction to modern utilitarianism.

  1. 07/11/2023

    1. Introduction to Utilitarianism

    This chapter introduces utilitarianism, and its major costs and benefits as a moral theory. The original text contained 12 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/introduction-to-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    11 min

  2. 07/11/2023

    2. Elements and Types of Utilitarianism

    After defining utilitarianism, this chapter offers a detailed analysis of its four key elements (consequentialism, welfarism, impartiality, and aggregationism). It explains the difference between maximizing, satisficing, and scalar utilitarianism, and other important distinctions between utilitarian theories. The original text contained 30 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/types-of-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    31 min

  3. 07/11/2023

    3. Arguments for Utilitarianism

    This chapter explains reflective equilibrium as a moral methodology, and presents several arguments for utilitarianism over non-consequentialist approaches to ethics. The original text contained 35 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/arguments-for-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    26 min

  4. 07/11/2023

    4. Theories of Well-Being

    Explores the three major theories of well-being, or what makes a life good for the individual living it: hedonism, desire theory, and objective list theory. The original text contained 38 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/theories-of-wellbeing --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    26 min

  5. 07/11/2023

    5. Population Ethics

    Population ethics tackles questions like how we should weigh new lives against existing lives, and how we should balance quantity and quality of life (when comparing different-sized populations). This chapter critically surveys five major approaches to population ethics: the total view, the average view, variable value theories, critical level (and critical range) theories, and person-affecting views. The original text contained 63 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/population-ethics --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    34 min

  6. 07/11/2023

    6. Utilitarianism and Practical Ethics

    Utilitarianism has important implications for how we should think about leading an ethical life. Despite giving no intrinsic weight to deontic constraints, it supports many commonsense prohibitions and virtues in practice. Its main practical difference instead lies in its emphasis on positively doing good, in more expansive and efficient ways than people typically prioritize. The original text contained 27 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/utilitarianism-and-practical-ethics --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    24 min

  7. 07/11/2023

    7. Near-Utilitarian Alternatives

    There are several ways to reject aspects of utilitarianism while remaining on board with the general thrust of the theory (at least in practice). This chapter explores a range of such near-utilitarian views, to demonstrate the robustness of utilitarianism's practical recommendations. Even if you think the theory is technically false, you may nonetheless have good grounds to largely agree with its practical verdicts. The original text contained 25 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/near-utilitarian-alternatives --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    22 min

  8. 07/11/2023

    8. Objections to Utilitarianism and Responses

    This chapter presents a toolkit of general strategies for responding to objections to utilitarianism, before introducing the most influential specific objections to the theory. The original text contained 7 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/objections-to-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

    12 min
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A concise, accessible, and engaging introduction to modern utilitarianism.

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