Utilitarianism, Hedonism, and Desert: Essays in Moral Philosophy

by Fred Feldman

Fred Feldman has made a substantial contribution to utilitarian moral philosophy. In this collection, ten previously published essays plus a new introductory essay reveal the striking originality and unity of his views. Feldman's utilitarianism differs from traditional forms in that it evaluates behavior by appeal to the values of accessible worlds. He also deals with problems of justice affecting standard forms of utilitarianism. The collection is suited for courses on contemporary utilitarian theory.

Genres: Philosophy

232 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 1997

Reviews

[Desmond Ravenstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some may find Feldman's writing to be rather dense, even tedious, but I found it certainly an improvement over much academic philosophical discussions, especially in his use of down-to-earth hypothetical scenarios (such as his enjoyment of peanuts).

IMHO his best contribution to utilitarian theory is his view that we must examine as many alternative scenarios -- "possible worlds" -- from a given starting point, and determine which will lead to the greatest benefit. The example he gives is a patient with severe heart disease who is recommended for surgery; while certain components of the procedure (cutting open the chest and cracking open the rib cage) may seem antithetical to any form of hedonism, the overall benefit outweighs that of other alternatives available. Feldman thus reminds us that utilitarianism is not just an hedonic ethical approach, but a consequentialist one, and that long-term benefit is the goal.