Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 74 (2):275-301 (2007)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
Most act-utilitarians now reject the direct utilitarianism of Bentham. They do so because they are convinced of what I call the paradox of utilitarianism -- the thought that one cannot maximize happiness if one is trying to maximize happiness. Instead, they adopt some form of indirect utilitarianism (IU), arguing that the optimal decision procedure may differ markedly from the criterion of rightness for actions. Here I distinguish between six different versions of indirect utilitarianism, arguing that the weaker versions of IU also fall prey to the paradox of utilitarianism, while the stronger versions of IU violate an overwhelmingly plausible moral principle, the principle that one ought to V only if one can V intentionally
|
Keywords | Analytic Philosophy Contemporary Philosophy Philosophy of Mind |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
ISBN(s) | 0031-8205 |
DOI | 10.1111/j.1933-1592.2007.00018.x |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
‘Ought’, ‘Can’, and Fairness.Rob van Someren Greve - 2014 - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 17 (5):913-922.
Consequentialism and the Wrong Kind of Reasons: A Reply to Lang.John Brunero - 2010 - Utilitas 22 (3):351-359.
The Integrity Objection, Reloaded.Jill Hernandez - 2013 - International Journal of Philosophical Studies 21 (2):145-162.
Agents, Patients, and Obligatory Self-Benefit.Michael Cholbi - 2014 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 11 (2):159-184.
Similar books and articles
A Dilemma for Objective Act-Utilitarianism.Gerald Lang - 2004 - Politics, Philosophy and Economics 3 (2):221-239.
Utilitarianism, Contractualism and Demandingness.Alison Hills - 2010 - Philosophical Quarterly 60 (239):225-242.
Ross and Utilitarianism on Promise Keeping and Lying: Self‐Evidence and the Data of Ethics.Thomas L. Carson - 2005 - Philosophical Issues 15 (1):140–157.
Utilitarianism and Infinite Utility.Peter Vallentyne - 1993 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 71 (2):212 – 217.
Economic Analysis, Common-Sense Morality and Utilitarianism.J. Moreh - 1992 - Erkenntnis 37 (1):115 - 143.
Utilitarianism.John Stuart Mill - 2009 - In Steven M. Cahn (ed.), Exploring Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. Oxford University Press.
The Diminishing Marginal Value of Happy People.James L. Hudson - 1987 - Philosophical Studies 51 (1):123 - 137.
Introducing Variable-Rate Rule-Utilitarianism.Michael Ridge - 2006 - Philosophical Quarterly 56 (223):242 - 253.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
94 ( #104,716 of 2,403,033 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
5 ( #156,638 of 2,403,033 )
2009-01-28
Total views
94 ( #104,716 of 2,403,033 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
5 ( #156,638 of 2,403,033 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads