https://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2011/11/30/is-utilitarianism-useful/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 01:17:36 -0400<![CDATA[On a trip to London a few years ago, my wife and I were having dinner at the Garrick Club with an eminent political philosopher and his wife. We had walked out on some horrible West End play after the first act and, having quickly gotten outside a bottle of wine, were finally beginning to enjoy the evening. Our hosts felt badly about the awfulness of the play &#8212; it was their suggestion to us out-of-towners &#8212; and to make up for the lack of drama on the stage my friend posed the following dramatic thought experiment: Let&#8217;s pretend, he said, that some mad scientist has figured out a way to bring peace, prosperity, and general happiness to the whole world.]]>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:29:05 -0500<![CDATA[Roger Kimball]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-kimball/2011/11/30/is-utilitarianism-useful-n116699