Description: Robert E. Goodin, a philosopher with many books on political theory, public 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 environment crisis, he demonstrates what a flexible tool his brand of utilitarianism can be in confronting the dilemmas of public policy in the real world.
Review Quotes: "...I think that much of Goodin's book can be enjoyed and appreciated as a discussion of important public policy issues without looking for it to resolve the more contentious question of the defensibility of utilitarianism over nonutilitariansim, even with respect to just its public policy applications." James P. Sterba, Ethics