Utilitarianism: A Reader's Guide

John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism (1863) defends ethical theory judging actions by consequences for happiness — refining Bentham with quality of pleasures and respect for rights.

Arguments

Higher pleasures (poetry versus pushpin), sanctions, justice as utility foundation, responses to "doctrine worthy of swine."

Why read

Modern policy, effective altruism, and moral debate still invoke these moves.

Dense but short — cornerstone of political philosophy.