Why people recommend it
Utilitarianism is a classic 1861 philosophical work by John Stuart Mill that defends the ethical theory that actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they produce the reverse. Alex O’Connor recommended the book on Modern Wisdom, suggesting that readers pair Mill's original text with Roger Crisp's companion analysis as the ultimate introduction to utilitarian ethics. O'Connor reiterated this advice across multiple episodes, emphasizing that Crisp's breakdown offers valuable analytical context for anyone diving into Mill's arguments. Meanwhile, on the No Stupid Questions podcast, host Angela Duckworth and her co-host examined specific passages from Mill's opus to discuss his famous assertions regarding higher intellectual pleasures versus lower physical pleasures. The fact-checker on the program noted that while Mill argued humans would naturally lean toward higher pleasures, his framing remains a cornerstone of ethical debate. Collectively, these podcast segments demonstrated the enduring relevance of Mill's philosophical framework in modern discussions of morality and human well-being.
Who recommended it
- Alex O’Connor Recommended
- Angela Duckworth Discussed
Alex O’Connor — 2 mentions
“it's a if you're trying to read utilitarianism by mill it's worth reading roger crisp alongside him it's just the best kind of introduction to it”
“if you're interested in the discussions on utilitarianism that we've been having then roger crisp's book mill on utilitarianism is the analysis that's worth reading and i think if you want to read utilitarianism by john stuart mill it's worth reading it alongside crisps analysis or reading crisps analysis first just to make sure you kind of understand everything that”
Angela Duckworth — 1 mention
“here is something that Jon Stewart Mill wrote in his Opus utilitarianism it's very long passage about higher and lower pleasures”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“also Angelo recalls that 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mill believed that humans would always choose higher more intellectual Pleasures over lower face Pleasures this is an exaggeration in its 1861 work utilitarianism Mill does claim that higher Pleasures are more intrinsically valuable”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I wrote a book on what's wrong with rights in 2020, and then this book came out.”