Derick Parfit, Reasons And Persons - Utility Monsters And The Repugnant Conclusion episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 22, 2026 · 12 MIN

Derick Parfit, Reasons And Persons - Utility Monsters And The Repugnant Conclusion

from Sadler's Lectures · host Lectures on classic and contemporary philosophical texts and thinkers by Gregory B. Sadler

This lecture discusses key ideas from American philosopher Derick Parfit's book Reasons And Persons, specifically the chapter titled "The Repugnant Conclusion". Specifically it examines he actual "repugnant conclusion" that his extended argument leads to, which is that it would be better to have a population that is very large but in which people's lives would have a very low quality of life, or a low amount of what makes life worth living for them, by comparison to any smaller population where the members would enjoy a better quality of life but have a lower overall sum of happiness or total amount what makes life worth living. To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 4500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Get Derek Parfit's Reasons And Persons here - https://amzn.to/4etfqcw

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