The foundations of Godwinian impartiality
Utilitas 18 (2):134-153 (2006)
| Abstract | William Godwin is often cited in contemporary philosophical discussions of ethical impartiality, within which he functions as a sort of shorthand for a particularly crude and extreme act-utilitarianism, one that contains no foundational commitments other than the maximizing of some conception of the general good. This article offers a reinterpretation of Godwin's argument, by focusing closely on the ambiguous nature of its justificatory foundations. Although utilitarian political theories seem to have two possible justifications available to them – egalitarian and teleological – there has been little effort to establish which one of them Godwin's argument for impartiality relies on. This problem becomes more complicated when it is acknowledged that Godwin actually provides two different justifications for impartiality, only one of which is consequentialist. The other seems to make a case based on the recognition of moral worth and virtue. This is something confirmed through analysis of Godwin's writings on equality and suggests his political theory is more complex than most philosophers are willing to admit. | |||||||||
| Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,679 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesRobert Garner (2012). Much Ado About Nothing?: Barry, Justice and Animals. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 15 (3):363-376.
Ian Harris (1995). The Adventures of William Godwin. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 3 (2):421 – 440.
H. D. Lewis (1955). Godwin's Moral Philosophy: An Interpretation of William Godwin. By D. H. Monro. (Oxford University Press. 1953. Pp. 205. Price 15s.). [REVIEW] Philosophy 30 (112):89-.
Diane Jeske (1997). Friendship, Virtue, and Impartiality. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 57 (1):51-72.
William Godwin (1993/1999). Political and Philosophical Writings of William Godwin. Pickering & Chatto.
Monique Deveaux (2003). Susan Mendus, Impartiality in Moral and Political Philosophy:Impartiality in Moral and Political Philosophy. Ethics 113 (4):895-898.
Peter Jones (1998). Political Theory and Cultural Diversity. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 1 (1):28-62.
Willard O. Eddy (1954). Book Review:Godwin's Moral Philosophy: An Interpretation of William Godwin. D. H. Monro. [REVIEW] Ethics 64 (2):134-.
Eva Erman (2007). Conflict and Universal Moral Theory: From Reasonableness to Reason-Giving. Political Theory 35 (5):598 - 623.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2009-01-28Total downloads11 ( #99,523 of 549,071 )Recent downloads (6 months)1 ( #63,317 of 549,071 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
