The Rejection of Consequentialism: A Philosophical Investigation of the Considerations Underlying Rival Moral ConceptionsOxford University Press, 11 août 1994 - 133 pages In contemporary philosophy, substantive moral theories are typically classified as either consequentialist or deontological. Standard consequentialist theories insist, roughly, that agents must always act so as to produce the best available outcomes overall. Standard deontological theories, by contrast, maintain that there are some circumstances where one is permitted but not required to produce the best overall results, and still other circumstances in which one is positively forbidden to do so. Classical utilitarianism is the most familiar consequentialist view, but it is widely regarded as an inadequate account of morality. Although Professor Scheffler agrees with this assessment, he also believes that consequentialism seems initially plausible, and that there is a persistent air of paradox surrounding typical deontological views. In this book, therefore, he undertakes to reconsider the rejection of consequentialism. He argues that it is possible to provide a rationale for the view that agents need not always produce the best possible overall outcomes, and this motivates one departure from consequentialism; but he shows that it is surprisingly difficult to provide a satisfactory rationale for the view that there are times when agents must not produce the best possible overall outcomes. He goes on to argue for a hitherto neglected type of moral conception, according to which agents are always permitted, but not always required, to produce the best outcomes. |
Table des matières
1 | |
Outline of a New Theory of Normative Ethics | 14 |
The Independence and Distinctness of the Personal Point of View | 41 |
The Defence of AgentCentred Restrictions Intuitions in Search of a Foundation | 80 |
The Project Reconsidered | 115 |
APPENDICES | 131 |
193 | |
Autres éditions - Tout afficher
The Rejection of Consequentialism: A Philosophical Investigation of the ... Samuel Scheffler Affichage d'extraits - 1982 |
The Rejection of Consequentialism:A Philosophical Investigation of the ... Samuel Scheffler Aucun aperçu disponible - 1994 |
Expressions et termes fréquents
accept actions affairs agent agent-centred prerogative agent-centred restrictions allow appeal argue argument attempt attention avoid believe best overall better Chapter claim commitments conceptions concerns consequences consequentialism consequentialist consider considerations constitute cost course death defenders deny deontological devote discussion distinction distributive equally example fact fails give given greater happens harm human hybrid hybrid conceptions idea identify impersonal standpoint important incorporating independence individual integrity interests intuitive justice killing kind least less maximization means minimize moral moral conceptions motivation natural non-optimal objection objectionable one's outcome overall outcome permissible permit personal point plans plausible point of view position possible prefer prevent principle produce the best prohibition projects promote question ranking overall rational rationale reason reject represent require response seems sense simply someone standard strategy suggestion theory things thought underlying utilitarianism violations weight wrong