005 - Of what Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is Susceptible

from Utilitarianism · host John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism stands as a cornerstone in the realm of ethical philosophy, offering a compelling defense of utilitarianism. Originally published as a series of three articles in Frasers Magazine in 1861, these writings were later compiled into a single book in 1863. Over his lifetime, Mill revised and released the work through four editions, each adding nuanced insights. While Mill touches on utilitarian principles in other notable works like On Liberty and The Subjection of Women, Utilitarianism is where he delivers his most comprehensive exploration of the foundational aspects of utilitarian ethical theory. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 10, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

005 - Of what Sort of Proof the Principle of Utility is Susceptible

0:00 22:39

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Introduction to Utilitarianism Utilitarianism.net A concise, accessible, and engaging introduction to modern utilitarianism. Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill Loyal Books John Stuart Mill’s book Utilitarianism is one of the most influential and widely-read philosophical defenses of utilitarianism in ethics. The essay first appeared as a series of three articles published in Fraser’s Magazine in 1861; the articles were collected and reprinted as a single book in 1863. It went through four editions during Mill’s lifetime with minor additions and revisions. Although Mill includes discussions of utilitarian ethical principles in other works such as On Liberty and The Subjection of Women, Utilitarianism contains Mill’s only major discussion of the fundamental grounds for utilitarian ethical theory. Hard Times Charles Dickens Hard Times, the shortest of Dickens's full-length novels, is set in the fictitious Victorian-England city of Coketown, where facts are the rule and all fancy is to be stamped out. The plot centers around the men and women of the town, some of whom are beaten down by the city's utilitarian ideals and some of whom manage to rise above it. The novel was written in 1854 and was a scathing attack on then-current ideas of utilitarianism, which Dickens viewed as a selfish and at times oppressive philosophy. Perhaps the novel's best features are its clever, ironic narration and the larger-than-life characters that push the plot forward, such as the upper-class banker and hypocritical braggart, Josiah Bounderby, and the fact-driven schoolmaster, Thomas Gradgrind. (Summary by Rosalind Wills). Philosophy | Ethics Short Story Discussions After Dinner Conversation Named “TOP 20 PHILOSOPHY PODCAST” for 2022!Brought to you by “After Dinner Conversation” publishing; thoughtful discussions about the philosophy and ethics found in the short fiction stories from our monthly magazine.Or, put another way, discussions about “what-if” examples, across literary genres, regarding ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, utilitarianism, aesthetics, moral relativism, and political and economic philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Utilitarianism?

This episode is 22 minutes long.

When was this Utilitarianism episode published?

This episode was published on February 10, 2026.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Utilitarianism episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!