Utilitas

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating contemporary debates in social sciences.

Introduction

Welcome to the Utilitas information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Utilitas, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0953-8208
PublisherCAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1989 to 2007, from 2010 to 2024
AbbreviationUTILITAS / Utilitas
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressEDINBURGH BLDG, SHAFTESBURY RD, CB2 8RU CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

Utilitas focuses on philosophical inquiries related to ethics, moral theory, and social justice, drawing from historical and contemporary thought. The journal aims to provide a platform for rigorous analysis and debate on moral issues that affect individuals and societies.
  1. Ethical Theories and Moral Philosophy:
    The journal explores various ethical frameworks, including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, providing a rich discourse on their implications for moral decision-making.
  2. Social Justice and Equality:
    Utilitas emphasizes discussions surrounding social justice, inequality, and the moral responsibilities individuals and societies hold towards one another, particularly in relation to economic and environmental issues.
  3. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Ethics:
    The journal encourages interdisciplinary research that incorporates insights from political philosophy, economics, and social sciences, fostering a comprehensive understanding of ethical issues.
  4. Historical Contextualization of Moral Issues:
    Utilitas frequently revisits historical philosophical texts and figures, such as John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham, to draw connections between past and present ethical dilemmas.
  5. Applied Ethics:
    The journal publishes works that apply ethical theories to real-world issues, including bioethics, animal ethics, and environmental ethics, making philosophical discussions relevant and actionable.
Utilitas has shown a dynamic evolution in its focus, with several emerging themes gaining traction in recent publications. This section outlines the notable trends and topics that are becoming increasingly relevant.
  1. Moral Uncertainty and Decision-Making:
    Recent publications emphasize the complexities of moral uncertainty, reflecting a growing interest in how individuals navigate ethical dilemmas when faced with ambiguous situations.
  2. Intergenerational Justice:
    There is an increasing focus on intergenerational justice, highlighting moral responsibilities towards future generations, particularly in discussions of climate change and resource allocation.
  3. Animal Ethics and Welfare:
    The journal is witnessing a rise in discussions surrounding animal ethics, particularly concerning wild animal suffering and the moral implications of intervention in nature.
  4. Health and Well-Being Ethics:
    Emerging themes related to health, well-being, and the ethics of paternalism indicate a trend towards examining how ethical frameworks can guide public health and individual health decisions.
  5. Social and Economic Justice:
    Recent articles illustrate a renewed focus on the intersections of ethics with social and economic justice, particularly in the context of inequality and economic growth debates.

Declining or Waning

While Utilitas has a robust foundation in various ethical discussions, certain themes and topics appear to be diminishing in prominence over recent years. This section highlights those waning areas.
  1. Traditional Egoism:
    Discussions centered on egoism as a moral framework have decreased, possibly indicating a shift towards more collective and altruistic ethical theories that prioritize social welfare.
  2. Overly Abstract Theoretical Constructs:
    There seems to be a declining interest in highly abstract philosophical constructs that lack practical implications, as the journal increasingly favors applied ethics and real-world relevance.
  3. Narrow Utilitarian Perspectives:
    The journal has moved away from narrow interpretations of utilitarianism, focusing instead on broader ethical discussions that encompass a variety of moral theories and approaches.
  4. Historical Philosophical Figures in Isolation:
    While historical figures such as Mill and Bentham are still discussed, their analysis is now often contextualized within contemporary debates rather than treated as standalone authorities.
  5. Purely Theoretical Debates on Consequentialism:
    There is a noticeable reduction in articles that engage in purely theoretical debates about consequentialism without applying these discussions to current moral dilemmas.

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