Utilitarianism

More about the book

Focusing on the evolution of utilitarianism, David Braybrooke reexamines Jeremy Bentham's foundational idea that social policies should be guided by statistical evidence. He critiques both rule-utilitarianism and act-utilitarianism, arguing that act-utilitarianism relies on rules for practical application. By proposing a census-based approach instead of the traditional hedonistic calculus, Braybrooke addresses criticisms of utilitarianism, particularly regarding life-sacrifices and happiness. His reinterpretation aligns with Bentham's vision while offering a more coherent framework for understanding happiness in social policies.