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The concept of evil is one of the most powerful in our moral
vocabulary, and is commonly used today in both religious and
secular spheres to condemn ideas, people, their actions, and much
else besides. Yet appeals to evil in public debate have often
deepened existing conflicts, through corruption of rational
discourse and demonization of the other. With its religious
overtones and implied absolutism, the concept of evil seems
ill-suited to advancing public discourse and pro-social relations
in a liberal democracy, as evidenced by its use in the abortion
debate. International relations have also suffered from references
to an 'axis of evil.' Recently, however, philosophers have begun
reconceptualising evil within a secular, moral framework, using the
idea of evil as the worst kind of immorality to inform and shape
our responses to issues like torture, genocide and rape as a weapon
of war. This book continues this trend, exploring a constructive
role for the concept of evil in practical ethics. Part I of the
book begins with two examinations of the concept itself, one
focusing primarily on its secular manifestations and the other on
evil in its religious context. Individuals are perhaps the primary
focus of attributions of evil, and Part II looks at two particular
manifestations of evil, in bullying and in mass killing, before
considering the nature of evil as an immoral character trait. Part
III moves beyond the individual to issues of collective evildoing,
evil environments, and political evil. The final part considers
responses to evil: can some evil be unforgiveable, and to what
extent should we 'enhance' ourselves morally so as to prevent
future evildoing? These essays, written by leading philosophers
from around the world, including the late Claudia Card, will take
the philosophical debate on moral evil in practical ethics to a new
level.
Mill was one of the most important British philosophers of the nineteenth century; his Utilitarianism is a pivotal work in ethical thought. This book, written specifically for students coming to Mill - and perhaps philosophy - for the first time, will be an ideal guide. Mill on Utilitarianism introduces and assesses: * Mill's life and the background of Utilitarianism * the ideas and text of Utilitarianism * the continuing importance of Mill's work to philosophy This is the first book dedicated to Utilitarianism itself. Concisely written and engaging, it is perfect reading for those studying Mill or moral philosophy.
The concept of evil is one of the most powerful in our moral
vocabulary, and is commonly used today in both religious and
secular spheres to condemn ideas, people, their actions, and much
else besides. Yet appeals to evil in public debate have often
deepened existing conflicts, through corruption of rational
discourse and demonization of the other. With its religious
overtones and implied absolutism, the concept of evil seems
ill-suited to advancing public discourse and pro-social relations
in a liberal democracy, as evidenced by its use in the abortion
debate. International relations have also suffered from references
to an 'axis of evil.' Recently, however, philosophers have begun
reconceptualising evil within a secular, moral framework, using the
idea of evil as the worst kind of immorality to inform and shape
our responses to issues like torture, genocide and rape as a weapon
of war. This book continues this trend, exploring a constructive
role for the concept of evil in practical ethics. Part I of the
book begins with two examinations of the concept itself, one
focusing primarily on its secular manifestations and the other on
evil in its religious context. Individuals are perhaps the primary
focus of attributions of evil, and Part II looks at two particular
manifestations of evil, in bullying and in mass killing, before
considering the nature of evil as an immoral character trait. Part
III moves beyond the individual to issues of collective evildoing,
evil environments, and political evil. The final part considers
responses to evil: can some evil be unforgiveable, and to what
extent should we 'enhance' ourselves morally so as to prevent
future evildoing? These essays, written by leading philosophers
from around the world, including the late Claudia Card, will take
the philosophical debate on moral evil in practical ethics to a new
level.
Does being virtuous make you happy? Roger Crisp examines the
answers to this ancient question provided by the so-called 'British
Moralists', from Thomas Hobbes, around 1650, for the next two
hundred years, until Jeremy Bentham. This involves elucidating
their views on happiness (self-interest, or well-being) and on
virtue (or morality), in order to bring out the relation of each to
the other. Themes ran through many of these writers: psychological
egoism, evaluative hedonism, and—after Hobbes—the acceptance of
self-standing moral reasons. But there are exceptions, and even
those taking the standard views adopt them for very different
reasons and express them in various ways. As the ancients tended to
believe that virtue and happiness largely coincide, so these modern
authors are inclined to accept posthumous reward and punishment.
Both positions sit uneasily with the common-sense idea that a
person can truly sacrifice their own good for the sake of morality
or for others. This book shows that David Hume—a hedonist whose
ethics made no appeal to the afterlife—was the first major
British moralist to allow for, indeed to recommend, such
self-sacrifice. Morality and well-being of course remain central to
modern ethics, and Crisp demonstrates how much there is to learn
from this remarkable group of philosophers.
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism is one of the most important, controversial, and suggestive works of moral philosophy ever written. Published in the Oxford Philosophical Texts series, this new edition of Mill's key text has been designed to suit both the beginning and more advanced student. The text is supplemented by an extensive editorial introduction, an analysis of the text, substantial endnotes, suggestions for further reading, and a full bibliography.
This new edition of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is an accurate,
readable and accessible translation of one of the world's greatest
ethical works. Based on lectures Aristotle gave in Athens in the
fourth century BCE, Nicomachean Ethics is one of the most
significant works in moral philosophy, and has profoundly
influenced the whole course of subsequent philosophical endeavour.
It offers seminal, practically oriented discussions of many central
ethical issues, including the role of luck in human wellbeing,
moral education, responsibility, courage, justice, moral weakness,
friendship and pleasure, with an emphasis on the exercise of virtue
as the key to human happiness. This second edition offers an
updated editor's introduction and suggestions for further reading,
and incorporates the line numbers as well as the section numbers of
the Greek text. With its emphasis on accuracy and readability, it
will enable readers without Greek to come as close as possible to
Aristotle's work.
Philosophical ethics consists in the human endeavour to answer
rationally the fundamental question of how we should live. The
Oxford Handbook of the History of Ethics explores the history of
philosophical ethics in the western tradition from Homer until the
present day. It provides a broad overview of the views of many of
the main thinkers, schools, and periods, and includes in addition
essays on topics such as autonomy and impartiality. The authors are
international leaders in their field, and use their expertise and
specialist knowledge to illuminate the relevance of their work to
discussions in contemporary ethics. The essays are specially
written for this volume, and in each case introduce the reader to
the main lines of interpretation and criticism that have arisen in
the professional history of philosophy over the past two or three
decades.
This new edition of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is an accurate,
readable and accessible translation of one of the world's greatest
ethical works. Based on lectures Aristotle gave in Athens in the
fourth century BCE, Nicomachean Ethics is one of the most
significant works in moral philosophy, and has profoundly
influenced the whole course of subsequent philosophical endeavour.
It offers seminal, practically oriented discussions of many central
ethical issues, including the role of luck in human wellbeing,
moral education, responsibility, courage, justice, moral weakness,
friendship and pleasure, with an emphasis on the exercise of virtue
as the key to human happiness. This second edition offers an
updated editor's introduction and suggestions for further reading,
and incorporates the line numbers as well as the section numbers of
the Greek text. With its emphasis on accuracy and readability, it
will enable readers without Greek to come as close as possible to
Aristotle's work.
Human rights are one of the most controversial and widely discussed
ideas in contemporary politics, ethics, and law. In recent decades,
the philosophy of human rights has become one of the most lively
areas in philosophy. One of the most significant contributors to
the debate has been James Griffin, formerly White's Professor of
Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford. In his book, On Human
Rights, and in other work, Griffin has defended the view that
contemporary judicial understandings of human rights rest on an
insecure theoretical basis. This has had the result that the
language of human rights has been over-extended, and consequently
has less force where it really matters. On Griffin's view, human
rights are best understood as protections of our agency and
personhood, and he argues his case with reference to many real-life
human rights cases. Griffin's book has led to a great deal of
discussion, and this volume collects several of the most
significant responses to Griffin by internationally leading moral
and political philosophers. It also includes a response by Griffin
himself. The book does not require first-hand knowledge of
Griffin's work, and, while being required reading for scholars of
human rights, will also make an ideal book for a undergraduate or
graduate seminar on human rights.
In Reasons and the Good Roger Crisp answers some of the oldest
questions in moral philosophy. Claiming that a fundamental issue in
normative ethics is what ultimate reasons for action we might have,
he argues that the best statements of such reasons will not employ
moral concepts. He investigates and explains the nature of reasons
themselves; his account of how we come to know them combines an
intuitionist epistemology with elements of Pyrrhonist scepticism.
He defends a hedonistic theory of well-being and an account of
practical reason according to which we can give some, though not
overriding, priority to our own good over that of others. The book
develops original lines of argument within a framework of some
traditional but currently less popular views.
In Reasons and the Good Roger Crisp answers some of the oldest
questions in moral philosophy. Claiming that a fundamental issue in
normative ethics is what ultimate reasons for action we might have,
he argues that the best statements of such reasons will not employ
moral concepts. He investigates and explains the nature of reasons
themselves; his account of how we come to know them combines an
intuitionist epistemology with elements of Pyrrhonist scepticism.
He defends a hedonistic theory of well-being and an account of
practical reason according to which we can give some, though not
overriding, priority to our own good over that of others. The book
develops original lines of argument within a framework of some
traditional but currently less popular views.
Does human well-being consist in pleasure, the satisfaction of
desires, or some set of goods such as knowledge, friendship, and
accomplishment? Does being moral contribute to well-being, and is
there a conflict between people's self-interest and the moral
demands on them? Are the values of well-being and of morality
measurable? Are such values objective? What is the relation between
such values and the natural world? And how much can philosophical
theory help us in our answers to these and similar questions?
Issues such as these provide the focus for much of the work of
James Griffin, White's Professor of Moral Philosophy at Oxford, in
whose honour Well-Being and Morality has been prepared. They are
also among the main topics of these fourteen new essays by an
international array of leading philosophers. Professor Griffin
himself provides a further discussion of central themes in his
thought, specially written in response to contributions to this
volume.
Business ethics, as an academic discipline directed at influencing
business itself, has now developed into a sophisticated
interdisciplinary enquiry, with its own journals, societies, and
specialist practitioners. The contributors reflect on the state of,
and prospects for, the field of business ethics. While the scope of
each chapter is intentionally broad, the particular perspectives
adopted, themes addressed, by the various authors display
considerable variety. The order of the chapters reflects a movement
from the armchair to the field, with insights from a number of
perspectives including philosophy, anthropology, management,
history, social science methodology, and education. Each
contributor is a recognised expert in their own particular area.
The book is essential reading for all interested in researching the
development of business ethics. It will also be of benefit to
students and business people interested in the development of
business ethics as a field of study.
How Should One Live? offers an authoritative survey of the remarkable recent revival of philosophical interest in the virtues. It features twelve specially commissioned pieces by a distinguished international team of authors. A broad range of topics is covered: practical virtue ethics; ancient views of the virtues; impartiality and partiality; Kant and the virtues; utilitarianism and the virtues; the virtues and human nature; natural and artificial virtues; virtue and the good life; the vices; virtue and the emotions; virtue and politics; feminism, moral education, and the virtues; and virtue and community. These essays give an ideal introduction to current work in this area.
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