Beyond Consequentialism

1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-0-19-969843-1
Verlag: OUP Oxford

Buch, Englisch, 286 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 439 g

Consequentialism, the theory that morality requires us to promote the best overall outcome, is the default alternative in contemporary moral philosophy, and is highly influential in public discourses beyond academic philosophy. Paul Hurley argues that current discussions of the challenge consequentialism tend to overlook a fundamental challenge to consequentialism. The standard consequentialist account of the content of morality, he argues, cannot be reconciled to
the authoritativeness of moral standards for rational agents. If rational agents typically have decisive reasons to do what morality requires, then consequentialism cannot be the correct account of moral standards. Hurley builds upon this challenge to argue that the consequentialist case for grounding
the impartial evaluation of actions in the impartial evaluation of outcomes is built upon a set of subtle and mutually reinforcing mistakes. Through exposing these mistakes and misappropriations, he undermines consequentialist arguments against alternative approaches that recognize a conception of impartiality appropriate to the evaluation of actions which is distinct from the impartiality appropriate to the evaluation of outcomes. A moral theory that recognizes a fundamental role for such a
distinct conception of impartiality can account for the rational authority of moral standards, but does so, Hurley argues, by taking morality beyond consequentialism in both its standard and non-standard forms.

Zielgruppe

Advanced students and scholars of philosophy

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hurley, Paul

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Ethik, Moralphilosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1: Introduction
2: The Challenge to Consequentialism: A Troubling Normative Triad
3: The Demandingness Objection: Too Demanding, Or Not Demanding at All?
4: Harnessing Williams to Sharpen the Challenge to Consequentialism
5: Deflating the Challenge iof Consequentialism
6: From Impersonality to Interpersonality: Alternative Conceptions of Impartiality
7: Impartial Evaluation and Rational Authority
8: Generalizing to Other Forms of Consequentialism
Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Hurley, Paul
Paul Hurley is Professor of Philosophy at Claremont McKenna College, California.