Consequentialism

Consequentialism is a major approach to normative ethical theory, which considers the production of good and prevention of bad consequences the touchstone of the moral evaluation. Consequentialism brings together for the first time both the main classical sources and the central contemporary expressions of this important position. Among classic sources, it includes empiricists such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, and rationalists like Henry Sidgwick and G. E. Moore. Contemporary consequentialist selections are included from Philip Pettit, Derek Parfit, Samuel Scheffler, Peter Railton, Richard B. Brandt, John C. Harsanyi, and Robert Adams. There are also two trenchant discussions of consequentialism by John Rawls and Amartya Sen. Edited and introduced by Stephen Darwall, these readings are essential for anyone interested in normative ethics.

Acknowledgments. Introduction. Part I: Classical Sources:. 1. From An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation : Jeremy Bentham. 2. From Utilitarianism : John Stuart Mill. 3. From Dr Whewell on Moral Philosophy : John Stuart Mill. 4. From The Methods of Ethics : Henry Sidgwick. 5. From Principia Ethica : G. E. Moore. Part II: Contemporary Expressions:. 6. Consequentialism: Philip Pettit. 7 . From The Rejection of Consequentialism: Samuel Scheffler. 8. From Reasons and Persons :Derek Parfit. 9. Alienation, Consequentialism, and the Demands of Morality: Peter Railton. 10. Bayesian Decision Theory and Utilitarian Ethics: John C. Harsanyi. 11. Toward a Credible Form of Utilitarianism: Richard B. Brandt. 12. Motive Utilitarianism: Robert Adams. Part III: Contemporary Discussion:. 13. Classical Utilitarianism: John Rawls. 14. Utilitarianism and Welfarism: Amartya Sen. Index.

Stephen Darwall is the John Dewey Collegiate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan. He has written widely on moral philosophy and its history, and is the author of Impartial Reason (1983), The British Moralists and the Internal ′Ought′: 1640–1740 (1995), Philosophical Ethics (1998), and Welfare and Rational Care (2002). He is the editor, with Allan Gibbard and Peter Railton, of Moral Discourse and Practice (1997).

‘A judicious selection, which offers not only a broad view of the main lines of consequentialist thought and its history, but an insight into significant recent developments within the tradition, and some widely discussed objections to it.’ Roger Crisp, St Anne′s College <!––end––> ′ Darwall′s collection is ideal for a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in ethical theory in which consequentialism is a central topic. It contains generous excerpts from the main historical proponents of consequentialism and a well–chosen selection of contemporary expressions and discussions of consequentialism.’ David O. Brink, University of California, San Diego