Essays on Political Morality

Front Cover
Clarendon Press, 1998 - Philosophy - 264 pages
R.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
34
256
Punishment and Retributive Justice
262
Copyright

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About the author (1998)

R. M. Hare, FBA, was White's Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford from 1966 to 1983, and Graduate Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of Florida, Gainesville, thereafter.

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