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Taking Utilitarianism Seriously

Woodard, Christopher

Authors

CHRISTOPHER WOODARD CHRISTOPHER.WOODARD@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Moral & Political Philosophy



Abstract

Utilitarianism is in the ascendancy in many parts of public culture, but its stock among moral and political philosophers is low. Many philosophers believe that it is a dead end, since they believe that the objections to it are overwhelming. This book seeks to contribute to a renewal of philosophical interest in utilitarianism by arguing that the objections usually thought to defeat it do not do so. It presents a novel form of utilitarianism based on a novel account of normative reasons for action. It argues that utilitarians can explain much of the complexity of our ethical and political thought. For example, they can account for moral rights, justice, the importance of equality, the significance of legitimacy and democracy, and the nature of virtue. Adopting a more complex form of utilitarianism enables plausible replies to the most common objections. Utilitarianism need not be too demanding, nor countenance abhorrent actions. It does not ignore the separateness of persons, nor the distinctiveness of political issues. It can also give a philosophically attractive account of the characteristics of virtuous agents. It is capable of doing justice to much more of our ethical and political thought than its critics realize.

Citation

Woodard, C. (2019). Taking Utilitarianism Seriously. Oxford: Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198732624.001.0001

Book Type Authored Book
Online Publication Date Oct 1, 2019
Publication Date Nov 1, 2019
Deposit Date Oct 22, 2020
Publisher Oxford University Press (OUP)
ISBN 9780198732624
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198732624.001.0001
Keywords Utilitarianism, Reasons for action, Moral rights, Justice, Equality, Legitimacy, Democracy, Virtue, Demandingness, Abhorrent actions
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2113249
Publisher URL https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780198732624.001.0001/oso-9780198732624


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