Customer Reviews

Utilitarianism: For and Against

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This terrific little book was my introduction to ethical philosophy in college. This is, in fact, the best way to introduce anyone to real philosophy: Present an important philosophical problem and let two very intelligent, articulate, and well-educated people of opposing views & good faith argue the merits, demerits, and difficulties inherent in a particular theory. In fairly clear and straightforward prose, Smart and Williams plunge right into the matter and hash it out with meticulous care. Smart offers a sophisticated version of Utilitarianism for our consideration. Williams draws out the implications of it and shows how Utilitarian ethics contains contradictions and potentially repellent outcomes. (Although Williams never makes it explicit in this book, he adheres to a sophisticated modern version of classical virtue ethics, a sort of refined Nicomachean ethics.)

This may not be the last word on Utilitarianism, but it is certainly one of the most intelligent and insightful. A perfect entree to ethical philosophy, that endlessly fascinating & vitally important dialogue about how we ought to live our lives.

The reviewer from Berkley could not be more right in recommending this book as an introduction to modern moral philosophy. Smart and Williams are two of the most brilliant and important philosophers of the last century and both are brilliantly clear and engaging communicators. The result is not just good introduction but a book that takes you right to the cutting edge of the subject. Smart contributes a splendidly bold and clear headed statement and defence of a form of act utilitarianism (`the view that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends only on the total goodness or badness of its consequences, i.e. on the effect of the action on the welfare of all human beings (or perhaps all sentient beings)'). Williams then provides a peerlessly brilliant and devastating critique of that same theory. The reader is left with a clear understanding both of why so many people as sensible and intelligent as Smart consider utilitarianism just obviously right and why so many people as humane and thoughtful as Williams think it is just crazy. If you are interested in philosophy, then, it's a wonderfully rewarding read. Indeed it's a great thing to read if you aren't sure whether you re interested in philosophy or not. If you find Williams on consequentialism, integrity and negative responsibility a dull read you will probably find pretty well any philosophy dull and you can safely conclude that the subject is not for you.

This book contains two well-written articals. Smart, a utilitarian, provides answers to some of hte arguments against his position while providing a definate middle ground for those who would ascribe themselves to this theory. Williams uses his anti-theorist credentials and targets utilitarianism and some of its flaws. Over all a good read for peole interested in the subject matter.

I enjoyed the logic in this book. Reading the book carefully was far more useful than casually skimming it; on my first 5 minute skim I nearly incorrectly wrote the book off as not useful. Not surprisingly, I agree with the other commenters that the problems raised by the book are not solved yet (by the book, or otherwise, to my knowledge), but the basic issues are well-clarified.

Ive read a lot of books on Utilitarian Ethics, and this, with out a doubt the best! Smart is concice and cercumspect in his presentation of what has become the most plausible and appliable form of consequentialism, i.e. Utilitarianism.

Williams presents extreemly perseptive critiques of Utilitarianism in perticuler, and consequentialism in general. Unfortunately for Williams it seems to me after 16 years of Ethical study, that Utilitarianism, as tough a theory as it is, is the most viable that has yet been discoverd. R.A.M. 3-15-00