Episodes

  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 14, Laudable Injustice

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 14, Laudable Injustice
    Dec 20 2022
    "Laudable injustice" looks like a contradiction, but Mill uses these words to describe what happens when an act or omission that is unjust in most cases is justifiable in a small group of other cases. Mill uses the example of kidnapping a doctor at gunpoint and forcing the reluctant doctor to treat a dying child. In this final episode we apply Mill' idea of laudable injustice to the famous Trolley Problem. If you don't know what that is, then come join us.
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    17 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 13 Justice and Utility (cont.)

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 13 Justice and Utility (cont.)
    Dec 13 2022
    This episode begins with an imaginary conversation between Mill and John Locke about the idea of natural rights. Mill rejects the idea of rights that exist outside of civil society and Locke has difficulty responding without engaging in circular reasoning. The remainder of the episode is an account of how difficult it is to use the idea of justice in the debate about the morality of abortion.
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    16 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 12, Feelings of Justice and the Idea of a Right

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 12, Feelings of Justice and the Idea of a Right
    Dec 6 2022
    In this episode I explain Mill's account of "feelings" of justice and injustice, and how Mill ties this concept to the idea of a violation of a moral or legal rule and the idea of punishment. I will also discuss Mill's concept of "a right" and what it means to say that one does or does not have a right to something (e.g. life, liberty, or a cup of coffee).
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    17 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Justice and Utility, EP 11

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Justice and Utility, EP 11
    Nov 29 2022
    In chapter 5 of Understanding John Stuart Mill, the most serious criticism of the utility principle is dissected and explained. The criticism is based on the claim that utilitarians cannot accommodate the ideas of justice and injustice. We will show in several steps how Mill's responds.
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    20 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Proof of the Principle of Utility (cont.) EP 10

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Proof of the Principle of Utility (cont.) EP 10
    Nov 22 2022
    In this episode we discuss Mill's attempt to show that the following propositions are not contradictory: (1) Happiness is the only thing desirable as an end; and (2) Virtue is a good in itself, without looking to any end beyond it. Mill does this by proposing that happiness has psychological parts.
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    18 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Proof of the Principle of Utility, EP 9

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, Proof of the Principle of Utility, EP 9
    Nov 15 2022
    Mill's theory of life has two elements: (1) Happiness is desirable as an end; and, (2) Happiness is the only thing desirable as an end. In this episode we will discuss Mill's unusual "proof" of element #1. The larger question is: How does one prove by reasoning (logic) that happiness is desirable as an end?
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    10 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, The Ultimate Sanction (cont.). EP 8

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, The Ultimate Sanction (cont.). EP 8
    Nov 15 2022
    This episode is a continuation of EP7. It is about Aristotle and Mill's claim that all humans have social feelings for all other humans. It is important to point out that this is an empirical claim, to be proved only by experience and observation, not by an analysis of the concept of "humanity" or "human being." The question is whether Mill can support this claim. In the twentieth century social scientists thought that there was sufficient data to disprove Mill's expansive claim about social feelings.
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    6 mins
  • Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 7 The Ultimate Sanction

    Understanding J.S. Mill's Utilitarianism, EP 7 The Ultimate Sanction
    Nov 8 2022
    Once we understand the principle of utility, what are the motives for obeying it? Mill writes that this is a problem for all moral theories. The general question is "Why should I be moral?" The particular question is "Why should I promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number?" Is it because I want people to like me? Or because I am afraid they will dislike me?" And what role does a person's conscience play in making moral decisions? How does conscience attach itself to the principle of utility?
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    22 mins