The Rejection of Consequentialism: A Philosophical Investigation of the Considerations Underlying Rival Moral Conceptions Revised Edition

Scheffler, Samuel

ISBN 10: 0198235119 / ISBN 13: 9780198235118

Editore: Oxford University Press, 1994

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Light markings in pencil-" 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 Samuel 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. From the Back Cover: This is a new edition of Samuel Scheffler's widely acclaimed first book, which established him as one of today's leading moral philosophers. His reconsideration of the case against consequentialism has been highly influential, and he has now taken the opportunity to supplement the original work with three substantial subsequently published essays in which he responds to criticism of the book and further develops various of its themes and arguments.".

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: The Rejection of Consequentialism: A Philosophical Investigation of the Considerations Underlying Rival Moral Conceptions Revised Edition
• Editore: Oxford University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 1994
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0198235119
• ISBN 13: 9780198235118
• Rilegatura: Brossura
• Edizione: seconda edizione
• Condizione: Good+

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Riassunto

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.

Recensione

From the reviews of the first edition:

an intelligent, substantive, and challenging book ... Scheffler's ... discussion of the problems of consequentialism is superior to any I have read (Philosophical Review)

`The Rejection of Consequentialism is a carefully argued, provocative book; it is a significant contribution to the perennial debate of the fundamental moral questions; its scary insight, by implication, into the state of contemporary culture should be taken as an urgent challenge to philosophy.' (International Philosophical Quarterly)

`an essay in moral theory at the deepest level ... which should be taken seriously by all moral philosophers' (Dialogue)