Reflective Equilibrium: Essays in Honour of Robert Heeger

ISBN-13: 9789401060875 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 291 str.

Wibren Van Der Burg; Theo Van Willigenburg

Opis

The basic idea of reflective equilibrium, as a method for theory construction and decision-making in ethics, is that we should bring together a broad variety of moral and non-moral beliefs and, through a process of critical scrutiny and mutual adjustment, combine these into one coherent belief system. This book aims to explore systematically the promises and problems of reflective equilibrium. Part One discusses the various elements that may be involved in reflective equilibrium processes, such as principles, facts, considered judgements, background theories and ideals. Part Two is devoted to the role of fundamental views of life and religion. Part Three discusses methodological issues such as coherentism, warrant and the development of judgmental faculties by the moral inquirer. In Part Four, some alternative purposes for reflective equilibrium methods are suggested. The book closes with a number of case studies in bioethics. This book is dedicated to Robert Heeger, Professor of Ethics at Utrecht University on the occasion of his 60th birthday. He and his research group have been doing research on reflective equilibrium for many years. Twenty Dutch and Swedish colleagues have contributed to this book in his honour, which aims to be a systematic and coherent discussion of this theme.

Spis treści

Preface; W. van der Burg, T. van Willigenburg. Introduction; W. van der Burg, T. van Willigenburg. Part I: The Elements of Reflective Equilibrium. Moral Principles: Authoritative Norms or Flexible Guidelines? M. Verweij. Morally Relevant Facts: Particularism and Intuitionist Rationality; T. van Willigenburg. Considered Judgements: Meaning, Community and Tradition; A. Vedder. Background Theories and Religious Beliefs: Their Role and Relation in Reflective Equilibrium; T. van den Beld. Ideals and Ideal Theory: The Problem of Methodological Conservatism; W. van der Burg. Part II: The Methodology of Reflective Equilibrium. Rationality, Warrant and Reflective Equilibrium; E. Herrmann. The Thinker and the Thinking Process: A Feminist Perspective on the Moral Faculty; M. Verkerk. Wide Reflective Equilibrium and the Justification of Moral Theory; B. Petersson. Your Intuition or Mine? I. de Beaufort. Part III: The Scope of Reflective Equilibrium: Fundamental Views of Life and Religion. Religious Models and Moral Principles; V. Brümmer. Reflective Equilibrium and Cosmological Claims; C.R. Bråkenhielm. World Views, Value Change and Reflective Equilibrium; A. Jeffner. Part IV: The Purposes of Reflective Equilibrium: Modelling Public Debate and Dialogue. Reflective Equilibrium and Public Debate: How to Cast the Public's Web of Beliefs Broadly Enough; J. Vorstenbosch. Developing Public Morality: Between Practical Agreement and Intersubjective Reflective Equilibrium; F.W.A. Brom. The Case of Shared Values: An Example of a Socratic Dialogue; J. Kessels Part V: Case Studies in Bioethics. The `Herman Case': The Usefulness of the Wide ReflectiveEquilibrium Model for Ethics Committees; E. Schroten. The Use of the Reflective Equilibrium Method in Normative Veterinary Ethics; B. Rutgers. Infanticide in Reflective Equilibrium; G. Collste. Reflective Equilibrium as a Normative-Empirical Model in Bioethics; J.J.M. van Delden, G.J.M.W. van Thiel. Bibliography. List of Contributors. Name Index. Tabula Gratulatorum.