Learning on ScreenHow 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
- Transmission details
- 8 Feb 2011 at 20:30 (Channel: BBC4)
- Duration
- 30 mins
Credits
- Director
- Mick Conefrey
- Producer
- David Paterson; Loen Kelly
- Writer
- Michael Sandel
- Contributor
- Michael Sandel
Additional Details
- Production type
- Documentary/Educational/News
- Plays
- Hamlet
- Keywords
- justice; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Pleasure
Production Company
- 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
- 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
Record Stats
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