Philosophy: Ethics: Normative: Utilitarianism

An explanation of what utilitarianism is, its strong relationship to altruism, and a place to network to put the philosophy of utilitarianism into practice and thereby make the world a better place.

Provocative extract from the book Sorting Out Ethics by the late R. M. Hare. "Kant, I shall argue, could have been a utilitarian, though he was not. His formal theory can certainly be interpreted in a way that allows him - perhaps even requires him - to be one kind of utilitarian."

Entries on utilitarian philosophers and terms by the Penguin Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Encyclopedia Britannica article, by Henry R. West.

Discussion about the varieties of utilitarianism, by R. N. Johnson. Utilitarianism is considered both as a theory of what is right and a theory of what is good.

Detailed discussion of contemporary utilitarian theory, including answers to a long list of frequent criticisms. By Ian Montgomerie.

Classic utilitiarian texts; defending utilitarianism from its critics; its relation with collectivism and hedonism - and the ultimate aim of utilitarianism.

Wikipedia entry.

Article arguing, from a utilitarian perspective, that citizens of affluent nations ought to give substantial amounts of their income to foreign aid agencies, by Peter Singer.

Classic presentation of utilitarianism, by one of its most prominent defenders, John Stuart Mill.

Contains selections from the writings of the classical utilitarians -principally Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Henry Sidgwick- with commentary thereupon.

Swedish site for information on and discussion about utilitarianism.

Excerpted from J. J. C. Smart's 'An Outline of a System of Utilitarian Ethics' (Cambridge, 1973).

Lists links to writings by and about the major utilitarian figures --David Hume, Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, Henry Sidgwick, R. M. Hare and Peter Singer.