This is the eighth of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain why utilitarianism is not as demanding as it may seem. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Logical positivism was a philosophical movement that attempted to approach philosophy as rationally as possible. Inspired by the success of the natural sciences, they concluded that philosophical claims that cannot be empirically verified are nothing but meaningless metaphysics…

This is the seventh of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain why utilitarianism doesn’t justify extreme injustice and inequality. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Utilitarianism is the intuitive moral philosophy that promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. A common objection brought up against it, however, is that it is too demanding. A theory that entails that I should let my child die…

This is the sixth of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain why some types of suffering deserve more attention than others. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Utilitarianism is the moral philosophy that promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. One of the objections critics raise against it, however, is that it justifies unfairness. Fairness or justice can be interpreted in a couple of…

This is the fifth of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain why rules are important for utilitarians. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Utilitarianism is the moral philosophy that promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. According to this view, if an action doesn’t cause any suffering, it should be morally permissible. But what if an action that relieves the suffering of person A…

This is the fourth of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain why utilitarians are concerned with intentions, even though they’re consequentialists. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Utilitarianism is the moral philosophy that promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Although this philosophy seems very intuitive at first, many object saying that sometimes it just feels wrong to do the thing that minimizes suffering…

This is the third of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain how utilitarianism is compatible with virtue ethics. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Utilitarianism is the moral philosophy that promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It is a consequentialist moral philosophy, and for this reason many make the mistake of assuming that it only cares about consequences, while ignoring intentions. In fact…

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This is the second of a series of articles defending a compatibilist interpretation of utilitarianism, which can be reconciled with all major moral theories. In the last article, I explain what utilitarians mean when they talk about “pain” and “pleasure”. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my newsletter in order to be notified about the next articles in the series.

Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes both its birth and its growth to teaching (for which reason it requires experience…

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Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy proposed by Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and later developed by John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) and others. Bentham and Mill were progressive British philosophers who were pioneers in the fight for the abolition of slavery, for women’s rights and even for LGBT and animal rights, which were extremely unpopular causes in their time. The defining principle of utilitarianism is quite simple: the right thing to do is always the thing that minimizes pain and maximizes pleasure.

To many, the principle of utility sounds so obvious at first as…