Morality Matters (eBook)

Roger Trigg (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2008
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-0-470-77993-4 (ISBN)

Infos

Morality still matters, argues philosopher Roger Trigg, in this accessible introduction to moral thinking.

• 
  
• Written for general readers with no background in philosophy.
  
• Argues that we need a shared moral vision in order to live together, both nationally and internationally.
  
• Considers the need for a shared morality in relation to subjects of vital importance such as human rights.
  
• Stresses that private behaviour cannot be kept separate from public choices.
  
• Discusses matters of topical debate on both sides of the Atlantic.

Roger Trigg is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick and was the Founding Chairman of the British Philosophical Association. His previous books include Ideas of Human Nature (Blackwell, Second Edition, 1999), Understanding Social Science (Blackwell, Second Edition, 2001), and Philosophy Matters (Blackwell, 2002).

Inhalt

Contents 7
Preface 10
Introduction 11
‘That ’s Your Opinion ’ 11
A Just Society? 14
Should Law Enforce Morality? 17
1 What Is Natural? 21
Is Morality Natural? 21
What Does ‘Being Natural ’Mean? 22
How Free Are We? 26
The Roots of Morality 28
Morality and Natural Law 31
2 Human Nature and Natural Law 36
What Is Natural Law? 36
Reason and Natural Law 39
Going against the ‘Grain of Nature ’ 42
What Is Morality About? 44
3 Human Rights 48
The Political Context 48
The Status of Rights 51
What Counts as a Right? 53
Who Gives Us Our Rights? 55
Are ‘Rights ’Merely a Western Idea? 58
4 Natural Rights and Law 63
Can Laws Be Unjust? 63
The Moral Background 65
The Law as Teacher 68
Liberalism and the Law 71
Should the Law Allow Torture? 73
5 The Rule of Law 78
What Is the Difference between Moral Rules and Laws? 78
Judicial Activism 81
The Role of Judges 83
Dissent and Democracy 86
Conscientious Objectors 88
6 The Public and the Private 92
Is a Political Pluralism Ethically Neutral? 92
The ‘Veil of Ignorance ’ 95
The Moral Basis of Agreement 98
Trust 100
‘Fair Play ’ 102
7 Groups and Individuals 106
Which Differences Matter Morally? 106
Discrimination and Multiculturalism 109
Politics and Race 112
A Case History:American Law 114
Sexual Orientation and Discrimination 118
8 Patriotism and Nationalism 121
The Dangers of Patriotism 121
The Limits of Moral Concern 123
Particular and Universal Loyalties 126
Liberalism and Country 130
The Patriot and the Cosmopolitan 132
9 One World:a Global Ethic? 135
A Cosmopolitan Law? 135
Global Responsibilities 139
Global Politics 142
Morality in International Relations 145
10 Character and Principle 150
The Importance of Character 150
‘Good Character 152
Liberalism and Character 155
‘Dirty Hands ’ 158
Moral Conflict 160
11 Morality and Human Nature 164
Human Dignity 164
‘Playing God ’ 167
Value Pluralism and Objectivity 169
Rationality and Freedom 172
Conclusion 175
Glossary 180
Bibliography 178
Index 185

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 15.4.2008
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Ethik
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften
• Schlagworte: Angewandte Ethik • Applied Ethics • Basis • Book • Claims • ethics • Ethik • Global • groups • Life • Limits • Local • loyalties • matter • Moral • Morality • Nation • Philosophie • Philosophy • Political • private choices • responsibilities • rights • Role • Scope • Social • Timely • Today • trigg examines • Western • World
• ISBN-10: 0-470-77993-4 / 0470779934
• ISBN-13: 978-0-470-77993-4 / 9780470779934