Some argue that utilitarianism is self-effacing, or recommends against its own acceptance, due to the risk that mistaken appeals to the 'greater good' may actually result in horrifically harmful actions being done. This article explores how best to guard against such risks, and questions whether it is an objection to a theory if it turns out to be self-effacing in this way.| Utilitarianism.net
1. Deontology’s Foil: Consequentialism| plato.stanford.edu
1. Utilitarianism| plato.stanford.edu
Relationships like parenthood or guardianship seemingly give rise to special obligations to protect those who fall under our care (where these obligations are more stringent than our general duties of beneficence towards strangers). This article explores the extent to which impartial utilitarianism can accommodate intuitions and normative practices of partiality.| Utilitarianism.net
Utilitarianism has important implications for how we should think about leading an ethical life. Despite giving no intrinsic weight to deontic constraints, it supports many commonsense prohibitions and virtues in practice. Its main practical difference instead lies in its emphasis on positively doing good, in more expansive and efficient ways than people typically prioritize.| Utilitarianism.net
This chapter explains reflective equilibrium as a moral methodology, and presents several arguments for utilitarianism over non-consequentialist approaches to ethics.| Utilitarianism.net
1. Classic Utilitarianism| plato.stanford.edu
This chapter presents a toolkit of general strategies for responding to objections to utilitarianism, before introducing the most influential specific objections to the theory.| Utilitarianism.net
1. The Concept| plato.stanford.edu
1. Preliminaries| plato.stanford.edu
1. Arriving at the Repugnant Conclusion| plato.stanford.edu