Name: Michelle Xu's review of Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill
Item: Utilitarianism
Rating: 3
Author: Michelle Xu

John Stuart Mill

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.

Utilitarianism

Michelle Xu

Disclaimer: I am a college student taking philosophy as a required course, I have no background in philosophy except for other works I've read in the class.

Utilitarianism has come a long way since Mill. I remember in English class in high school as well as speech and debate, Utilitarianism was always spoken of as "would you rather save one person who you love or a fifty people you don't know?" What's the greater good?

While Mill does not go into that example, he lays the foundation for utilitarianism for centuries to come.

I found Mill's writing a bit difficult to understand. It was definitely interesting to see the background and philosophical thought that went behind that age old question that was discussed in English class.

Peanne

Martin Weitzel

James Miller

Marisa Petri

Josiah Bates

Mirella Hetekivi

Roger Crisp

Introduction to one of the most important, controversial, and suggestive works of moral philosophy ever written.

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Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill

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Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill