J. S. Mill and Robert Veatch's Critique of Utilitarianism

Southern Journal of Philosophy 23 (2):181-200 (1985)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Modern bioethics is clearly dominated by deontologists who believe that we have some way of identifying morally correct and incorrect acts or rules besides taking account of their consequences. Robert M. Veatch is one of the most outspoken of those numerous modern medical ethicists who agree in rejecting all forms of teleological, utilitarian, or consequentialist ethical theories. This paper examines his critique of utilitarianism and shows that the utilitarianism of John Stuart Mill is either not touched at all by his critique or can be defended against it. This article argues that the dominant deontological majority is mistaken and that a utilitarian theory of moral action very much like Mill’s is precisely what is needed by modern medical ethics and by those medical practitioners who are resolved to practice medicine in a reasonable and morally acceptable manner.

Similar books and articles

Mill’s Moral Standard.Ben Eggleston - 2016 - In Christopher Macleod & Dale E. Miller (eds.), A Companion to Mill. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. pp. 358-373.
Mill's utilitarianism: Exposition and evaluation.Golam Azam - 2005 - Philosophy and Progress 37:137.
Utilitarianism.John Stuart Mill - 2009 - In Steven M. Cahn (ed.), Exploring Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. Oxford University Press.
J. S. mill's revisionist utilitarianism.Don Habibi - 1998 - British Journal for the History of Philosophy 6 (1):89 – 114.
Utilitarianism - Ed. Heydt.Colin Heydt (ed.) - 2010 - Peterborough, CA: Broadview Press.
Three Utilitarians: Hume, Bentham, and Mill.Yusuke Kaneko - 2013 - IAFOR Journal of Ethics, Religion and Philosophy 1 (1):65-78.
Mill's Utilitarianism: Critical Essays.David Lyons (ed.) - 1997 - Critical Essays on the Classics Series.
Two Concepts of Rule Utilitarianism.Rex Martin - 2008 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 5 (2):227-255.

Analytics

Added to PP
2010-09-15

Downloads
1,442 (#6,871)

6 months
374 (#4,350)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Rem B. Edwards
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references