Bernard Williams Utilitarianism For And Against Pdf Download
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- Bernard Williams Utilitarianism Notes
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Bernard Williams Utilitarianism For And Against Pdf. 5/15/2017 0 Comments. Business Ethics Vol.1.0.pdf - Business Ethics. SCHOOL Sacread Heart. John Stuart Mill's book Utilitarianism is a classic exposition and defence of utilitarianism in ethics. The essay first appeared as a series of three articles.
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A serious and controversial work in which the authors contribute essays from opposite points of view on utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.
Published September 20th 1973 by Cambridge University Press (first published January 1st 1973)
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Aug 15, 2007Nat rated it liked it
I wonder: does anyone read Smart's half of this book anymore?
Williams loathes utilitarianism, which gives his attack some verve, but his attack seems totally inconclusive. He does manage to show that utilitarianism would, in extreme situations, have counter-intuitive consequences, and that it is very demanding. Any utilitarian would be happy to admit as much. He doesn't show what he tries to, that utilitarianism makes agency unintelligible.
The last line of the essay expresses a hope that we wo..more
Williams loathes utilitarianism, which gives his attack some verve, but his attack seems totally inconclusive. He does manage to show that utilitarianism would, in extreme situations, have counter-intuitive consequences, and that it is very demanding. Any utilitarian would be happy to admit as much. He doesn't show what he tries to, that utilitarianism makes agency unintelligible.
The last line of the essay expresses a hope that we wo..more
Apr 15, 2017Parinaz added it
EXTREME AND RESTRICTED UTILITARIANISM 344-354
May 08, 2017Lea rated it really liked it Shelves: philosophy, read-in-english, 2017, non-fiction
I'm taking a university class on this book, so this was a first reading and I'll slowly and carefully re-read it over the course of this semester. Let me just already say that Williams hate for utilitarianism is just as entertaining as it's misguided. I'm almost looking forward to my final paper on this now (I will regret writing this sentence, once I'm actually working on it, obviously).
Feb 13, 2018Millie Muroi rated it liked it
I was contemplating how to introduce this book and recount a recent encounter with Caitlin. Caitlin, the master reviewer, the inspiration of my writing, possibly the nicest person you’ll ever meet - I would, in no uncertain terms, fly over to Melbourne for her.
So as I was saying, I ran into Caitlin at - would you believe it? - the sandy outskirts of Perth. Cottesloe happens to be prime location as it turns out, not only for “people stalking” but also for pre-season soccer trainings, for no riva..more
So as I was saying, I ran into Caitlin at - would you believe it? - the sandy outskirts of Perth. Cottesloe happens to be prime location as it turns out, not only for “people stalking” but also for pre-season soccer trainings, for no riva..more
Nov 02, 2016Clay Kallam rated it really liked it
Intuitively, utilitarianism is the simplest of all philosophies. Its mantra, “the greatest good for the greatest number,” seems like an obvious way to make decisions both large and small.
But as is always true, nothing is as simple as it seems – and utilitarianism is no different. In “Utilitarianism For & Against,” Bernard Williams does a pretty good job of eviscerating the system most prominently advanced by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. J. J. C. Smart does the best he can in the “For..more
But as is always true, nothing is as simple as it seems – and utilitarianism is no different. In “Utilitarianism For & Against,” Bernard Williams does a pretty good job of eviscerating the system most prominently advanced by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. J. J. C. Smart does the best he can in the “For..more
Jul 11, 2017Zachary Jacobi rated it really liked it
Fascinating exploration of utilitarianism that made me think deeply about a few things:
* How alike are all the forms of utilitarianism?
* How practical is it to measure and compare utilities?
* Is utilitarianism the tool with which to accomplish its goal? Or must it necessarily fail to bring about optimific circumstances?
Smart was the more consistent writer, but Williams (despite the occasional lack of clarity) had all the best remarks. I remain a utilitarian even after reading it, but I perhaps h..more
* How alike are all the forms of utilitarianism?
* How practical is it to measure and compare utilities?
* Is utilitarianism the tool with which to accomplish its goal? Or must it necessarily fail to bring about optimific circumstances?
Smart was the more consistent writer, but Williams (despite the occasional lack of clarity) had all the best remarks. I remain a utilitarian even after reading it, but I perhaps h..more
Nov 12, 2016Greg rated it it was ok
It's true that Smart's is the more clearly written essay, but Williams' is far more philosophically interesting.
A fairly simple introduction to and debate around utilitarianism and its merits, or lack thereof. I found Smart to be clear and honest in his defence of utilitarianism, and thought that Williams' arguments were generally lacking much impact. Still, a pleasant and easy read.
Apr 28, 2010Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it really liked it
This slim book was assigned reading in a philosophy course on ethics I took in college. It consists of two essays. J. J. Smart's 'An Outline of a System of Utilitarian Ethics' and Bernard William's 'A Critique of Utilitarianism.' I remember when I was first introduced in school to the subject of ethics, I was basically presented with two alternatives--Kant's Categorical Imperative and Utilitarianism. The case that sticks in my mind was the hypothetical, what if you could save a million lives by..more
Neat little volume, read primarily for Bernard Williams' argument against direct utilitarianism. Briefly, B. Willies argues that because direct (act) utilitarianism can in fact incorporate rules of thumb that there is little reason for us to resort to indirect (rule) utilitarianism (which he more or less discards). Among other things, B. Willies claims that because direct utilitarianism is committed to the moral principle that only actions have moral value (insofar as they produce favorable cons..more
Dec 15, 2008Aaron rated it really liked it
This is one of the better books on the topic, for Utilitarianism, or ethics, or philosophy in general; specifically for Utilitarianism, this is probably the best book to get introduced to the topic. J.J.C. Smart and Bernard Williams each take half the book to explain Utilitarianism as they understand it, and to argue pro (Smart) and con (Williams). The book is rather short, small, and easy to read. Smart and Williams each do justice the topic by discussing relevant issues and common problems/com..more
Apr 16, 2017Greg Gauthier rated it liked it · review of another edition
Just finished the JJC Smart portion of this book. I read the Williams half last year. Far from being a defender of Utilitarianism, Smarts half is at best, an equivocal apology for it, in spite of its many flaws, that Smart himself openly admits to. He is especially concerned with Kantian critiques, in spite of the fact that he repeatedly says he's coming from a non-cognitivist position. Smart's thought experiments are classroom favourites today, but I'm with Williams on this on. Trolley dilemmas..more
Bernard Williams Utilitarianism Notes
An excellent presentation of two takes on the two sides of the argument. Although not as technical as a typical journal article, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone as a first step into utilitarian theory. The book best for those who are at least vaguely familiar with the theory's basic claims and problems. Smart has provided an very useful annotated bibliography that's worth the price of admission on its own.
Jun 12, 2011Jacob rated it it was amazing
Two fine writers cover a lot of ground in a small number of pages. (Except for one small detour Smart takes into game theory, it's amazingly concise.) This serves as a fantastic counterexample for those who think philosophy is the province of blather and not making sense. Utilitarianism is easy to bash, but Williams treats it fairly, and Smart's essay is worth thinking about.
Nov 01, 2016Henrik rated it liked it
Useful but somewhat outdated and a bit more disorganized than it needs to be. For much more concise criticisms of Utilitarianism, Rachels and Nozick are better. Still, Williams makes an essential point about integrity, which most others leave out. Smart's defense is pretty standard.
Smart is clearer, but Williams makes some good points (especially the odd position of utilitarianism being a theory which seemingly entails that people should really seldom use itself).
Feb 22, 2009Shaheed Bhagat Singh rated it did not like it
Philosophical hogwash at its finest. The 'against' section by Bernard Williams in particular is a superb example of the sheer inanity of the analytic tradition.
Sep 20, 2012Michael Kenan Baldwin rated it really liked it
Bernard Williams Criticism Of Utilitarianism
Deceptively easy to read, as some of Williams' critiques especially are quite subtle. Smart is the clearer of the two writers. A useful exchange.
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Bernard Williams Critique Of Utilitarianism
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- It also provides us with a criterion for judging which motives we ought to use. This is not the same as providing the motive we ought to use. In the latter case there is only the utilitarian motive: maximize the general happiness. In the former the motives may be diverse depending upon what will maximize the general happiness. Thus, acting from the motive of honoring a trust may do more to maximize happiness in a particular situation than acting from the motive of maximizing happiness.Google Scholar
- J.S. Mill,Utilitarianism (New York: Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc., 1957), p. 23.Google Scholar
- “Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism” inTheories of Ethics, edited by Philippa Foot (Oxford University Press, London, 1967), pp. 176-77. See also p. 10 ofUtilitarianism For & Against where he refers to this article to make the same point.Google Scholar