Utilitarianism as a Public Philosophy

368 Pages·1995·18.379 MB·English

by  Robert Goodin

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UTILITARIANISM
·ASAP UBLIC
PHILOSOPHY
ROBEER.GT O ODIN
Utilitarianism, the great reforming philosophy of the nineteenth century, has
today acquired a reputation for being a crassly calculating, impersonal phi-
losophy unfit to serve as a guide for moral conduct. Yet what may disqualify
utilitarianism as a personal philosophy makes it an eminently suitable guide
for public officials in the pursuit of their professional responsibilities.
Robert E. Goodin, a philosopher with many books on political theory, pub-
lic policy, and applied ethics to his credit, defends utilitarianism against its
critics and shows how it can be applied most effectively over a wide range
of public policies. In discussions of such issues as paternalism, social welfare
policy, international ethics, nuclear armaments, and international responses
to the environmental crisis, he demonstrates what a flexible tool his brand of
utilitarianism can be in confronting the dilemmas of public policy in the real
world.
Written in a lucid, nontechnical style, these essays will interest a large cross
section of the academic community concerned with, and teaching courses on,
public policy, whether they be in departments of philosophy, political science,
law, or economics.

Utilitarianism as a public philosophy
Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Public Policy
GENERAL EDITOR: Douglas MacLean
The purpose of this series is to publish the most innovative and
up-to-date research into the values and concepts that underlie
major aspects of public policy. Hitherto most research in this
field has been empirical. This series is primarily conceptual and
normative; that is, it investigates the structure of arguments and
the nature of values relevant to the formation, justification, and
criticism of public policy. At the same time it is informed by
empirical considerations, addressing specific issues, general
policy concerns, and the methods of policy analysis and their
applications.
The books in the series are inherently interdisciplinary and
include anthologies as well as monographs. They are of par-
ticular interest to philosophers, political and social scientists,
economists, policy analysts, and those involved in public ad-
ministration and environmental policy.
Other books in the series
Mark Sagoff: The Economy of the Earth
Henry Shue (ed.): Nuclear Deterrence and Moral Restraint
Judith Lichtenberg (ed.): Democracy and the Mass Media
William A. Galston: Liberal Purposes
Elaine Draper: Risky Business
R. G. Frey and Christopher W. Morris: Violence, Terrorism, and
Justice
Douglas Husak: Drugs and Rights
Ferdinand Schoeman: Privacy and Social Freedom
Dan Brock: Life and Death
Paul B. Thompson: The Ethics of Trade and Aid
Jeremy Waldron: Liberal Rights
Steven P. Lee: Morality, Prudence, and Nuclear Weapons
Bernard E. Rollin: The Frankenstein Syndrome
Utilitarianism as
a public philosophy
ROBERT E. GOODIN
RESEARCH SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 IRP
40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA
10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia
© Cambridge University Press 1995
First published 1995
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Goodin, Robert E.
Utilitarianism as a public philosophy / Robert E. Goodin.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-521-46263-0 (hard). - ISBN 0-521-46806-x (pbk.)
1. Utilitarianism. 2. Political science - Philosophy. I. Title.
B843.G66 1995
i7i'.5 - dc20 94-3385
CIP
A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 0-521-46263-0 hardback
ISBN 0-521-46806-x paperback
Transferred to digital printing 2003
For Brett and Ross

Contents
Preface page ix
Acknowledgments xi
PART i: INTRODUCTION:
MORAL BASES OF STATE ACTION
1 Utilitarianism as a public philosophy 3
2 The state as a moral agent 28
PART II: MORALITY, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
3 Do motives matter? 47
4 Government house utilitarianism 60
PART III: SHAPING PRIVATE CONDUCT
5 Responsibilities 81
6 Distributing credit and blame 88
7 Apportioning responsibilities 100
PART IV: SHAPING PUBLIC POLICIES
Respecting and overriding preferences
8 Liberalism and the best-judge principle 119
9 Laundering preferences 132
10 Heroic measures and false hopes 149
11 Theories of compensation 160
Vll