Utilitarianism as a Public Philosophy

ISBN-13: 9780521468060 / Angielski / Miękka / 1995 / 368 str.

Robert E. Goodin; Douglas MacLean

Opis

Robert E. Goodin, a philosopher with many books on political theory, public policy and applied ethics to his credit, defends utilitarianism against its critics and shows how it can be applied most effectively over a wide range of public policies. In discussions of such issues as paternalism, social welfare policy, international ethics, nuclear armaments, and international responses to the environment crisis, he demonstrates what a flexible tool his brand of utilitarianism can be in confronting the dilemmas of public policy in the real world.

Recenzje

'… there is a great deal in this richly argued book for both moral philosophers and social scientists in general.' Roger Crisp, The Times Literary Supplement

Spis treści

Part I. Introduction: Moral Bases of State Action: 1. Utilitarianism as a public philosophy; 2. The state as a moral agent; Part II. Morality, Public and Private: 3. Do motives matter?; 4. Government house utilitarianism; Part III. Shaping Private Conduct: 5. Responsibilities; 6. Distributing credit and blame; 7. Apportioning responsibilities; Part IV. Shaping Public Policies: Section A. Respecting and overriding preferences: 8. Liberalism and the best-judge principle; 9. Laundering preferences; 10. Heroic measures and false hopes; 11. Theories of compensation; Section B. Ensuring social security: 12. Stabilising expectations; 13. Compensation and redistribution; 14. Basic income; 15. Relative needs; C. International ethics; 16. What is so special about our fellow countrymen?; 17. Nuclear disarmament as a moral certainty; 18. International ethics and the environmental crisis; References; Index.