Resources
Key Books
The Feeling of Value - Sharon Hewitt Rawlette
The most rigorous defence of analytic hedonism available. Rawlette demonstrates how pleasure and pain are identical to intrinsic value and disvalue, providing the meta-ethical foundation for objective morality.
Reasons and Persons - Derek Parfit
Contains the original formulation of the mere addition paradox and other crucial problems in population ethics. Essential for understanding the complexities of utilitarian theory.
The Life You Can Save - Peter Singer
Practical guide to effective giving that demonstrates how utilitarian principles apply to global poverty. Shows how small sacrifices by wealthy individuals can prevent enormous suffering.
Animal Liberation - Peter Singer
The foundational text applying utilitarian principles to animal welfare. Despite being written decades ago, remains highly relevant to contemporary factory farming issues.
Moral Tribes - Joshua Greene
Accessible introduction to utilitarian thinking that bridges philosophical theory with psychological research on moral decision-making.
Podcasts
80,000 Hours Podcast
In-depth interviews with researchers and practitioners working on the world's most pressing problems from an effective altruist perspective.
Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg
Explores rational decision-making and often touches on utilitarian approaches to complex moral questions.
The Ezra Klein Show
Frequently covers applied ethics and policy questions through a broadly consequentialist lens.
Organisations
Effective Altruism Forum
Central hub for discussion and research on doing the most good. Contains detailed analyses of cause prioritisation from a roughly utilitarian perspective.
Future of Humanity Institute
Research institute focusing on existential risks and long-term consequences of human actions.
Happier Lives Institute
Research organisation focused on measuring and comparing subjective wellbeing interventions. Provides rigorous analysis of mental health and wellbeing programs from a hedonistic utilitarian perspective.
Animal Charity Evaluators
Applies utilitarian principles to evaluate the most effective animal welfare interventions.
GiveWell
Rigorously evaluates global health charities based on cost-effectiveness at improving human welfare.