Moral Luck: Philosophical Papers 1973-1980A new volume of philosophical essays by Bernard Williams. The book is a successor to Problems of the Self, but whereas that volume dealt mainly with questions of personal identity, Moral Luck centres on questions of moral philosophy and the theory of rational action. That whole area has of course been strikingly reinvigorated over the last deacde, and philosophers have both broadened and deepened their concerns in a way that now makes much earlier moral and political philosophy look sterile and trivial. Moral Luck contains a number of essays that have contributed influentially to this development. Among the recurring themes are the moral and philosophical limitations of utilitarianism, the notion of integrity, relativism, and problems of moral conflict and rational choice. The work presented here is marked by a high degree of imagination and acuity, and also conveys a strong sense of psychological reality. The volume will be a stimulating source of ideas and arguments for all philosophers and a wide range of other readers. |
Contents
Persons character and morality | 1 |
Moral luck | 20 |
Utilitarianism and moral selfindulgence | 41 |
Politics and moral character | 54 |
Conflicts of values | 71 |
Justice as a virtue | 83 |
Rawls and Pascals wager | 94 |
Internal and external reasons | 101 |
Ought and moral obligation | 122 |
Practical necessity | 124 |
The truth in relativism | 132 |
Wittgenstein and idealism | 144 |
71 | 150 |
94 | 156 |
144 | 164 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
A. J. Ayer agent agent-regret answer applies argument Aristotle Ayer basic believe Categorical Imperative certainly character characteristic choice claim conception concerned condition conflict consequentialist consider considerations course decision deliberation deliberative discussion dispositions distinction empirical ethical existence explanation expression external reason statement fact Gauguin's idea idealism important incommensurable injustice involves issue J. J. C. Smart justice justified Kantian kind language language-game least limits luck mean merely Moral Luck moral obligation moral self-indulgence moral thought motive neutral sentence notional confrontation one's outcome Owen Wingrave particular Pascal's wager perhaps person philosophy pleonexia political politicians possible practical present problem projects propositional operator question rational Rawls real option reasons for action regard regret relations relativism S1 and S2 seems sense situation social solipsism someone sort structured violence supposed theory things transcendental transcendental idealism true utilitarian values verifiability virtue Wittgenstein wrong