Utilitarianism

Name: Utilitarianism
ISBN: 9780344961526

by John Stuart Mill · first published 1863

7mentions

5recommended by

7HN commenters

2008–2021first – last mentioned

71% recommend29% neutral

Why HN recommends it

A short, foundational statement of utilitarian ethics, serving as a first philosophy text for students and newcomers to moral philosophy seeking a scholarly starting point.

Summarised by Claude from recommending comments

Philosophy

"Because Utilitarianism is a work of enduring value, it is easy to forget that Mill meant for it to be a topical and relevant contribution to the moral debates of his time. In this edition of Mill's essay, Colin Heydt situates the work in its historical context by supplementing the text of the essay with appendices containing excerpts of related works by Mill's predecessors, Mill himself, and prominent critics of his views. The historical richness of this edition of Utilitarianism would surely have pleased Mill, and will surely benefit today's readers." Ben Eggleston, University of Kansas --

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What Hacker News says

hilbert42 · Feb 19, 2021 · Recommends

…how not be screwed by one's enemies (be wary/aware of likely enemies, avoid situations that could lead to one's dethronement). It's a very short book, just a few hours to read. 10 & 11. On Liberty | Utilitarianism—John Stuart Mill. Both books were highly influential and still are. On liberty deals with a theory of liberty—re liberty itself, also concerning political rulers, tyrants and tyranny. Utilitarianism is…
on “Philosophy of Science: Suggested Core Readings and Background Texts [pdf]” ↗
berrypicker · Feb 6, 2014 · Recommends

If you're interested in something more scholarly, read John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism.
on “How I Learned to Stop Procrastinating, and Love Letting Go” ↗
walterk · Mar 22, 2008 · Recommends

…inspiringly about the entrepreneur as a (potentially) heroic figure, but hasten to add that her sociology of looters and movers is way too simplistic to ground some of her views on ethics. John Stuart Mill's "Utilitarianism" was my first assigned reading in a political philosophy class, and remains my favorite. Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals prompted me to question whether the values I had always held were really…
on “Articles, Ideas, Books and/or Concepts that have changed your life” ↗
Bishizel · Jul 10, 2010 · Recommends

Asking for "Best Philosophical Books" is pretty much like asking for an opinion, everyone will have a very different view. That being said, here's my view! John Stuart Mill - "Utilitarianism" (Kant be damned.) Thomas Nagel - "Moral Luck" David Lewis - "On the Plurality of Worlds" Plato - "The Republic" Aristotle - "The Metaphysics"
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗
ameister14 · Nov 13, 2014 · Recommends

…stuff; it'll make you more educated on it than any reply here can. I'd start with Rousseau's 'The Social Contract,' Locke's second treatise on government, Hobbes' 'Leviathan', John Stuart Mill's 'On Utilitarianism,' Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, and Hume's Political Discourses.
on “Philae has landed” ↗
zazi · Jan 31, 2011 · Mentions

…satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, are a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question." - John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (1863)
on “Stupid is better than smart” ↗
gorbachev15 · Jun 25, 2020 · Mentions

…highest abstract standard of social and distributive justice; towards which all institutions, and the efforts of all virtuous citizens should be made in the utmost degree to converge.” —John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, 1861 The origination of social justice initiatives.
on “On Liberty (1859) [pdf]” ↗