Rational Choice and Moral Agency - Rilegato

Schmidtz, David

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 069103401X ISBN 13: 9780691034010

Casa editrice: Princeton Univ Pr, 1995

Riassunto

Is it rational to be moral? How do rationality and morality fit together with being human? These questions are at the heart of David Schmidtz's exploration of the connections between rationality and morality. This inquiry leads into both metaethics and rational choice theory, as Schmidtz develops conceptions of what it is to be moral and what it is to be rational. He defends a fairly expansive conception of rational choice, considering how ends as well as means can be rationally chosen and explaining the role of self-imposed constraints in a rational life plan. His moral theory is dualistic, ranging over social structure as well as personal conduct, and building both individual and collective rationality into its rules of recognition for morals.
To the "why be moral" question, Schmidtz responds that being moral is rational, but he does not assume we have reasons to be rational. Instead, Schmidtz argues that being moral is rational in a particular way and that beings like us in situations like ours have reasons to be rational in just that way. This approach allows him to identify decisive reasons to be moral; at the same time, it explains why immorality is as prevalent as it is. This book thus offers a set of interesting and realistic conclusions about how morality fits into the lives of humanly rational agents operating in an institutional context like our own.

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Recensione:

"An exceptionally clear, well-argued, and blessedly jargon-free book to answer the question `Why be moral?'. . . This book . . . far richer than can be detailed here, should be read by anyone interested in contemporary ethics and/or rational choice theory. Highly recommended."--Choice

"A compelling, commonsensical look at a difficult issue. . . . The book is clearly written. . . . It avoids obscurity and technical terminology so as to render it intelligible even to those unfamiliar with the issues."--Canadian Philosophical Review

L'autore:

David Schmidtz is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Princeton Univ Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 1995
• ISBN 10: 069103401X
• ISBN 13: 9780691034010
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 283