Religious utilitarians

Abstract

The article discusses the relationship between utilitarianism and religion, particularly focusing on the “religious utilitarians” of the 18th century who, unlike their secular counterparts, combined the pursuit of general happiness with a strong belief in Christian doctrines. The article highlights the similarities and differences between these religious utilitarians and other moralists of their time, analyzing the philosophical and theological connections between their ideas. It outlines the key tenets of religious utilitarianism, including the principle of happiness as the standard of right or wrong, the motivation to virtue found in personal happiness, and the role of divine rewards and punishments in the afterlife. The article concludes by emphasizing the influence of these religious utilitarians on subsequent utilitarian thought, including their contributions to concepts such as the association of ideas, the importance of habit, and the delineation of sources of obligation. – AI-generated abstract.