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Single Idea 18630

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 4. Social Utilitarianism ]

Full Idea

Modern utilitarianism, despite its radical heritage, no longer defines a distinctive political position.

Gist of Idea

Utilitarianism is no longer a distinctive political position

Source

Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 2.6)

Book Ref

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.47

A Reaction

This is his final sentence on the topic. I suppose utilitarianism exists as a moral theory at too high a level of generality to count as a political theory.

The 29 ideas from 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)'

18623 The quest of the general good is partly undermined by people's past entitlements [Kymlicka]
18624 Utilitarianism is not a decision-procedure; choice of the best procedure is an open question [Kymlicka]
18626 One view says start with equality, and infer equal weight to interests, and hence maximum utility [Kymlicka]
18650 Teleological theories give the good priority over concern for people [Kymlicka]
18651 The most valuable liberties to us need not be the ones with the most freedom [Kymlicka]
18652 The Lockean view of freedom depends on whether you had a right to what is restricted [Kymlicka]
18627 A second view says start with maximising the good, implying aggregation, and hence equality [Kymlicka]
18625 To maximise utility should we double the population, even if life somewhat deteriorates? [Kymlicka]
18628 We shouldn't endorse preferences which reject equality, and show prejudice and selfishness [Kymlicka]
18630 Utilitarianism is no longer a distinctive political position [Kymlicka]
18629 Using utilitarian principles to make decisions encourages cold detachment from people [Kymlicka]
18632 Liberalism tends to give priority to basic liberties [Kymlicka]
18633 Equal opportunities seems fair, because your fate is from your choices, not your circumstances [Kymlicka]
18634 Equal opportunity arbitrarily worries about social circumstances, but ignores talents [Kymlicka]
18637 Utilitarianism is irrational if it tells you to trade in your rights and resources just for benefits [Kymlicka]
18635 Social contract theories are usually rejected because there never was such a contract [Kymlicka]
18638 The difference principles says we must subsidise the costs of other people's choices [Kymlicka]
18640 Libertarians like the free market, but they also think that the free market is just [Kymlicka]
18649 If everyone owned himself, that would prevent slavery [Kymlicka]
18654 Marxists say justice is unneeded in the truly good community [Kymlicka]
18655 Justice corrects social faults, but also expresses respect to individuals as ends [Kymlicka]
18656 Marxists say liberalism is unjust, because it allows exploitation in the sale of labour [Kymlicka]
18657 Communitarian states only encourage fairly orthodox ideas of the good life [Kymlicka]
18659 The 'Kantian' view of the self misses the way it is embedded or situated in society [Kymlicka]
18658 The 'Kantian' self steps back from commitment to its social situation [Kymlicka]
18660 Communitarians say we should pay more attention to our history [Kymlicka]
18661 Ancient freedom was free participation in politics, not private independence of life [Kymlicka]
18663 Modern liberalism has added personal privacy to our personal social lives [Kymlicka]
18664 Maybe the particularist moral thought of women is better than the impartial public thinking of men [Kymlicka]