Political Theory 101 cover image

Bentham, Mill, and the Utilitarians

Political Theory 101

CHAPTER

The Game of Hot Potato - Where Does Morality Come From?

Kant says that our wills and desires are laws unto themselves but public actions must accept law as ordained by the state. So we get this division between the vices of the public sphere and the virtues which we can try to nourish as private individuals. This gets inverted in the 18th century when commercial society makes the private sphere itself a sphere of immorality. When you divide the private from the public spheres you're never quite sure how to live a good life because you're always forced to live a double life, a jekyll and a hide.

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner