bigideas

Much is made of the collapse of ideology in modern politics. So what guides policy if not an overarching idea? Evidence Based Policy focusses on the success of certain measures taken to achieve specific outcomes, but why should government be interested in these outcomes in the first place?

A philosophy which first became popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Utilitarianism in its various guises purports to provide a rational basis for moral action, both at an individual and a societal level. Perhaps Government ministers need only remember Bentham’s maxim, “the greatest good for the greatest number of people.” But how can we decide what is good? Or what makes us happy? And is there a rational way for policy to achieve good and happy outcomes?

John Pugh, MP for Southport and Liberal Democrat treasury spokesperson, has had a rich and varied career. He studied Philosophy at Durham and has been a school teacher and local councillor. Most importantly to Big Ideas, he is founder member of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group. He will give us a guide to utilitarianism in its various forms and lead our conversation. He joins us for the evening in a personal capacity.