Essays on Political MoralityR.M. Hare presents a selection of essays in which he brings ethical theory lucidly to bear on moral problems arising in politics. He examines our obligation to obey the law; the limits of legitimate lawbreaking, civil violence, and war; rights of various sorts and their supposed conflict with utility; justice, distributive and retributive; and care of the environment. His arguments are amply illustrated by specific examples. The volume substantiates the author's claim that help with such problems can be found in philosophy, and particularly in his own ethical theory, which draws together the best insights of Kant and utilitarians. |
Contents
The Role of Philosophers in the Legislative Process | 1 |
Political Obligation | 8 |
4 | 20 |
On Terrorism | 34 |
Rules of War and Moral Reasoning | 45 |
Some Issues about | 62 |
Comment on David | 96 |
Arguing about Rights | 106 |
How Politics Masquerades | 121 |
8 | 148 |
217 | 246 |
256 | |
262 | |
Common terms and phrases
accept acceptance-utility act-utilitarian action acts actually adopted affected amoralist answer appeal argue argument Aristotle called conflict consequences cost-benefit analysis critical thinking delouse democracy distribution distributive justice duty emotivists environmental equal concern equal weight example facie principles fact formal justice freedom of association give going harm ideal observer ideal observer theory impartially individual interests intuitive level join a union judge justified kind legal rights legislation logical properties Mackie means method moral concepts moral convictions moral judgements moral principles moral questions moral reasoning moral thinking Nagel obligation ourselves particular people's perhaps person philosophers political possible practical preferences prescriptions principles of justice problems punishment Quinton rational contractors Rawls retributive justice sense situation slavery slaves society sort South Africa strike action suppose terrorism things trade unions two-level utilitarian typhus universal universalizability utilitarian utility violence Wastwater word wrong