The 39th HLA Hart Memorial Lecture was held on 22 May in the College Chapel. This year’s lecture, part of the series funded by the Tanner Lectures on Human Values, was streamed live and recorded for future use (see recording below). It was delivered by Professor Elizabeth Anderson from the University of Michigan.

In her talk, Professor Anderson offered a clear and engaging overview of the political history of Utilitarianism, a theory that continues to shape decisions in law, politics, and society today. She traced the theory’s development from early ideas about duty and fairness to its later justification for sacrificing some for the benefit of the many.

Her lecture prompted the audience to reflect on how utilitarian thinking influences modern policy and raised important questions about whether alternative ethical frameworks might offer better ways to guide our actions and laws.

You can view a recording of the lecture below:

Published: 9 June 2025

Explore Univ on social media