The demands of consequentialism

Author(s)

Bibliographic Information

The demands of consequentialism

Tim Mulgan

Clarendon Press , Oxford University Press, 2001

  • : pbk

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

ISBN 9780198250937

Description

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.

Table of Contents

  • 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 2. Options for Consequentialism
  • 3. RULE CONSEQUENTIALISM
  • 4. Other Forms of Collective Consequentialism
  • 5. SUB-MAXIMIZING CONSEQUENTIALISM
  • 6. Hybrid Moral Theories
  • 7. TWO MORAL REALMS
  • 8. The Morality of Reciprocity
  • 9. The Morality of Necessity
  • 10. The New Theory
  • PROOF FOR CHAPTER 6
  • Bibliography, Index
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780199286973

Description

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.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Options for Consequentialism
  • 3. Rule Consequentialism
  • 4. Other Forms of Collective Consequentialism
  • 5. Sub-Maximizing Consequentialism
  • 6. Hybrid Moral Theories
  • 7. Two Moral Realms
  • 8. The Morality of Reciprocity
  • 9. The Morality of Necessity
  • 10. The New Theory
  • Proof for Chapter 6
  • Bibliography, Index

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Details

  • NCID
    BA55433033
  • ISBN
    • 0198250932
    • 9780199286973
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Oxford,New York ; Tokyo
  • Pages/Volumes
    vi, 313 p.
  • Size
    25 cm
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