How to Measure Pleasure

Synopsis: Television programme. Third in a series of lectures drawn from Harvard professor Michael Sandel’s famous undergraduate course on the philosophy of justice. In this episode Sandel introduces the British philosopher John Stuart Mill. He tests Mill’s theory that that the higher pleasure is that which is preferred by a well-informed majority by playing video clips from three very different forms of entertainment - Shakespeare’s Hamlet (or rather Zeffirelli’s film adaptation featuring Mel Gibson), 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: Great Britain
Medium: Radio; Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Transmission details: 8 Feb 2011 at 20:30 (Channel: BBC4)
Duration: 30 mins

Production type: Documentary/Educational/News
Plays: Hamlet
Keywords: justice; philosophical investigation; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Philosophy; Mill, John Stuart (1806-1873)

History: This programme was broadcast as part of the BBC Four Justice Season, a season of wide-ranging debates on the state of justice in Britain and the world today.
Reviews: Source: BBC programme information http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ydkfd (accessed 4/2011), Radio Times

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