Morality and Moral Theory: A Reappraisal and ReaffirmationContemporary philosophers have grown increasingly skeptical toward both morality and moral theory. Some argue that moral theory is a radically misguided enterprise that does not illuminate moral practice, while others simply deny the value of morality in human life. In this important new book, Louden responds to the arguments of both "anti-morality" and "anti-theory" skeptics. In Part One, he develops and defends an alternative conception of morality, which, he argues, captures more of the central features of both Aristotelian and Kantian ethics than do other contemporary models, and enables the central importance of morality to be convincingly reaffirmed. In Louden's model, morality is primarily a matter of what one does to oneself, rather than what one does or does not do to others. This model eliminates the gulf that many anti-morality critics say exists between morality's demands and the personal point of view. Louden further argues that morality's primary focus should be on agents and their lives, rather than on right actions, and that it is always better to be morally better--i.e. it is impossible to be "too moral." Part Two presents Louden's alternative conception of moral theory. Here again he draws on the work of Aristotle and Kant, showing that their moral theories have far more in common than is usually thought, and that those features that they share can be the basis for a viable moral theory that is immune to the standard anti-theory objections. Louden reaffirms the necessity and importance of moral theory in human life, and shows that moral theories fulfill a variety of genuine and indispensable human needs. |
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action acts Anti-Theory in Ethics antitheorists architectonic argued arguments Aristotelian Aristotelian ethics Aristotle Aristotle and Kant Aristotle's assert assumption basic believe Bentham Bernard Williams categorical imperative chap chapter character claim that morality commitment conception of moral concerning consequentialist constraints contemporary criticism Critique decision procedure defend discussion doctrine duty empirical Endzweck Essays ethical theory eudaimonia evaluation friendship fundamental human ideals important interests irresolvable issue justice Kant Kantian ethics knowledge Limits of Philosophy live Martha Nussbaum maximization means moral agents moral assessment moral conception moral conflicts moral considerations moral deliberation moral expertise moral imagination Moral Luck moral practices moral theory moral values morality's nature Nicomachean Ethics nonmoral normative normative ethical Nussbaum one's particular perfect duties person phronesis politics presupposes primary principles question rational reflection rules self-regarding sense simply social theoretical theĊria theorists things traits University Press utilitarian virtue ethics Williams York
References to this book
Three Methods of Ethics: A Debate Marcia W. Baron,Philip Pettit,Michael Slote No preview available - 1997 |
Innocence Lost: An Examination of Inescapable Moral Wrongdoing Christopher W. Gowans Limited preview - 1994 |