The Idea of an Ethical CommunityJohn Charvet presents an original philosophical theory that transcends the liberal-communitarian debate and justifies universally valid principles of prudential and moral reason. The Idea of an Ethical Community rejects contemporary positions - the liberal theorist's politically neutral stance toward alternative conceptions of good, on the one hand, and the communitarian's moral relativism, on the other. Charvet espouses what he calls an "antirealist" view of shared norms and maintains that although reason cannot be unconditionally authoritative, there can be conditionally definitive rational principles. His book advances a view of the ethical community consistent both with the contractarian idea of John Rawls's early work. A Theory of Justice and with a due emphasis on communitarian values. But he grounds this view of the ethical community in a theory of the autonomous person and a theory of value. |
Contents
The Possibility of Ethical Life I | 1 |
SELFINTEREST | 11 |
Desire Reason and Value | 13 |
Copyright | |
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accept agent agent-neutral reasons antirealist argument basic basis beliefs Bernard Williams Charvet choice claim Clarendon Press commitment communitarians conception contractarian course deontological desire-fulfillment theory develop egoistic equal rights ethical existence experience fact fundamental future interests ground hence human idea impartial reason impersonal standpoint independent individual individual's inequalities insofar interactions intertemporal intrinsic desire involves John Rawls judgment latter liberty lives maximize means ment moral community moral reasons Nagel nature negative rights non-tuist norms notion objective obligation one's oneself Oxford Pareto principle Parfit particular personal autonomy personal identity point of view political possible powers practical present principle prisoner's dilemma produce promote prudential rationality pursue rationalist Rawls Rawlsian reasons for action reflective standpoint relation requires respect rules satisfaction self-interest theory sense sires social cooperation solipsism supposed Theory of Justice Thomas Nagel tion tuist unity utilitarian utility valid veil of ignorance