The Demands of Consequentialism
Available
 
About the Book
According to consequentialism, we should always put our resources where they will do the most good. A small contribution to a reputable aid agency can save a child from a crippling illness. We should thus devote all our energies to charity work, as well as all our money, till we reach the point where our own basic needs, or ability to keep earning money, are in jeopardy. Such conclusions strike many people as absurd. Consequentialism seems unreasonably demanding, as it leaves the agent no room for her own projects or interests. Tim Mulgan examines consequentialist responses to this objection. A variety of previous consequentialist solutions are considered and found wanting, including rule consequentialism, the extremism of Shelly Kagan and Peter Singer, Michael Slote's satisficing consequentialism, and Samuel Scheffler's hybrid moral theory. The Demands of Consequentialism develops a new consequentialist theory, designed to be intuitively appealing, theoretically sound, and only moderately demanding. Moral choices are first divided into distinct realms, primarily on the basis of their impact on the well-being of others. Each realm has its own characteristic features, and different moral realms are governed by different moral principles. The resulting theory incorporates elements of act consequentialism, rule consequentialism, and Scheffler's hybid theory. This original and highly readable account of the limits of consequentialism will be useful to anyone interested in understanding morality.
Book Details
ISBN-13: 9780198250937
EAN: 9780198250937
Publisher Date: 07 Feb 2002
Height: 242.5 mm
Language: English
MediaMail: Y
Number of Items: 01
Series Title: English
Width: 155 mm
ISBN-10: 0198250932
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Binding: Hardcover
Is LeadingArticle: Y
LCCN: 2001033956
No of Pages: 326
PrintOnDemand: N
Spine Width: 22.25 mm