Wiley-Blackwell The Blackwell Guide to Mill's Utilitarianism (Blackwell Guides to Great Works)

The Blackwell Guide to Mill’s Utilitarianism volume is an ideal commentary for students on Mill’s classic essay. Contains the complete text of Utilitarianism and twelve related essays. Essays cover the background to Mill’s classic essay, analyses of the arguments, and contemporary debates within the utilitarian tradition. Also includes a case study demonstrating the application of utilitarian theory to military or non-violent responses to terrorism. Each contribution is an original essay written by a specialist at the cutting edge of philosophical scholarship. Review "West provides a set of well-written essays by excellent scholars, who cover both Mill's text and its continuing significance for contemporary philosophical ethics. This will be a very valuable resource for anyone studying Mill's ethics." Dr Roger Crisp, University of Oxford <!--end--> From the Inside Flap This Blackwell Guide is an ideal commentary for students on Mill’s Utilitarianism. It is written by specialists at the cutting edge of philosophical scholarship in a style that is accessible to readers coming to Mill’s classic statement for the first time. The Guide contains the complete text of Utilitarianism and twelve related essays. Three of these are background essays, designed to acquaint the reader with Mill’s life, his philosophical influences, and the place of Utilitarianism in Mill’s overall philosophy. Five are analyses of the arguments in Utilitarianism, and include discussion of some of the most disputed points in interpretation. A final section of four essays addresses some contemporary debates within the utilitarian tradition. The last of these examines the implications of utilitarianism for practical ethics, taking as a case study the application of utilitarian theory to military or non-violent responses to terrorism. From the Back Cover This Blackwell Guide is an ideal commentary for students on Mill’s Utilitarianism. It is written by specialists at the cutting edge of philosophical scholarship in a style that is accessible to readers coming to Mill’s classic statement for the first time. The Guide contains the complete text of Utilitarianism and twelve related essays. Three of these are background essays, designed to acquaint the reader with Mill’s life, his philosophical influences, and the place of Utilitarianism in Mill’s overall philosophy. Five are analyses of the arguments in Utilitarianism, and include discussion of some of the most disputed points in interpretation. A final section of four essays addresses some contemporary debates within the utilitarian tradition. The last of these examines the implications of utilitarianism for practical ethics, taking as a case study the application of utilitarian theory to military or non-violent responses to terrorism. About the Author Henry R. West is Professor of Philosophy at Macalester College, St Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of An Introduction to Mill’s Utilitarian Ethics (2004), Moral Philosophy: Classic Texts and Contemporary Problems (1977), and articles in journals and encyclopedias on John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism.