British Universities Film & Video Council

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How to Measure Pleasure

Synopsis
In a lecture drawn from Professor Michael Sandel’s course on justice, he introduces the British philosopher John Stuart Mill. Mill argued that seeking the greatest good for the greatest number is compatible with protecting individual rights, and that utilitarianism can make room for a distinction between higher and lower pleasures. Sandel tests Mill’s theory that that the higher pleasure is that which is preferred by a well-informed majority by playing video clips from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the reality show FEAR FACTOR and THE SIMPSONS. Students debate their own preferences and whether Mill’s defense of utilitarianism is successful.
Series
Justice
Language
English
Country
United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Keywords
justice; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Pleasure

Credits

Director
Mick Conefrey
Producer
David Paterson; Loen Kelly
Writer
Michael Sandel
Contributor
Michael Sandel

Production Company

Name

Harvard University

Name

WGBH Boston

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email
services@bufvc.ac.uk
Web
http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7393 1514
Fax
020 7393 1555
Address
For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ
View this record on the Shakespeare site for additional details

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