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Moral Blackmail: Coercion, Responsibility, and Global Justice (Routledge Focus on Philosophy)
by Ben ColburnMoral Blackmail: Coercion, Responsibility, and Global Justice identifies a novel kind of forced action, yet one that is relatively neglected in ethics and moral philosophy. Moral blackmail occurs when someone is forced to do something because someone else has made all its alternatives morally unacceptable.Ben Colburn explores moral blackmail by first examining existing theories of coercion, responsibility, and voluntary action, and defending its existence from various sceptical metaethical arguments, before arguing that moral blackmail's significance is not limited to the interpersonal: it is also endemic in the structures of distribution and decision-making at the largest scale. To show this, he considers two problems in intergenerational and international justice: the problem of ‘passing the buck’ in environmental and population policies in the former, and the problem of ‘taking up the slack’ in situations of partial compliance with the demands of the latter. Recognising these as instances of moral blackmail writ large offers novel solutions to these long-standing philosophical problems, as well as offering proof in use of the account Colburn proposes.Moral Blackmail will be of interest to those studying and researching political philosophy, ethical theory, applied ethics, and politics.
Moral Certainty and the Foundations of Morality
by Neil O’HaraWhat lies at the foundation of our moral beliefs? If we dig down far enough do we find that our moral values have no ground at all to stand on, and so are apt to collapse upon serious philosophical investigation? This book seeks to answer these and related questions by positing an indubitable foundation for our moral beliefs – they arise from the phenomenon of ‘primary recognition’, and are fundamentally shaped by ‘basic moral certainties’. Drawing on philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and Knud Ejler Løgstrup, this book draws together insights from both Analytic and Continental philosophy to provide a convincing new picture of our moral foundations. And it does so in a way that eschews moral conservativism and opens the way for a rich understanding of the variety and particularity of our human moral systems, while also keeping a significant place for those moral beliefs that occur universally, across cultures.
Moral Challenges in a Pandemic Age (Routledge Research in Applied Ethics)
by Evandro BarbosaThe COVID-19 pandemic, whose consequences will be felt in the long term, can be interpreted as a signal that we have been living in a pandemic age. A pandemic is humanity's common ground, so the moral problems inherent in it are of interest to everyone from now on. It brought a set of moral challenges that cannot be ignored. This book – which emerged amid the novel coronavirus crisis – is designed to fill the gap in the current literature on the topic, offering an original approach to its moral implications. It can be taken as a guide in the face of these pandemic-age challenges for human relations. The pandemic is a multifaceted phenomenon, and its debate involves a wide variety of practical philosophical concerns. All the chapters of this book, divided into four sections, aim to clarify its central aspects, while each chapter provides an original approach to the debate’s leading issues and relies on each most significant collaborator’s expertise. Also, they reflect their unique pandemic experiences under the scrutiny of philosophical unrest. Since the pandemic is an ongoing event, Moral Challenges in a Pandemic Age will be of interest to professors, students, and researchers engaged in understanding the ethical dimension of the age we are experiencing. The problems addressed in this collection transcend the boundaries of the philosophical field, offering an innovative approach to individuals keen on discussing the pandemic from a moral point of view. Such a discussion encompasses the philosophical inquiry but is not restricted to it. Those interested in related areas such as psychology, sociology, biology, public health, education, anthropology, and cultural studies – to name a few – will find connections with parallel themes in this book. In addition, the collection brings a theoretically supported approach to several related debates in a language accessible to anyone who wants to know more about the topic.
Moral Change: Dynamics, Structure, and Normativity
by Cecilie EriksenHow does moral change happen? What leads to the overthrow or gradual transformation of moral beliefs, ideals, and values? Change is one of the most striking features of morality, yet it is poorly understood. In this book, Cecilie Eriksen provides an illuminating map of the dynamics, structure, and normativity of moral change. Through eight narratives inspired by the legal domain and in dialogue with modern moral philosophy, Eriksen discusses moral bias, conflict, progress, and revolutions. She develops a context-sensitive understanding of ethics and shows how we can harvest a knowledge of the past that will enable us to build a better future.
Moral Choices for Our Future Selves: An Empirical Theory of Prudential Perception and a Moral Theory of Prudence (Routledge Focus on Philosophy)
by Eleonora ViganòThis book investigates the relationship between our present and future selves. It focuses specifically on diachronic self-regarding decisions: choices involving our earlier and later selves, in which the earlier self makes a decision for the later self. The author connects the scientific understanding of the neurobehavioral processes at the core of individuals’ perceptions of their future selves with the philosophical reflection on individuals’ moral relationship with their future selves. She delineates a descriptive theory of the perception of the future self that is based on empirical evidence and that systematizes and integrates the current theoretical literature. She then argues for the morality of prudence and interprets diachronic self-regarding decisions as decisions between two agents— the earlier and later selves—that belong to the realm of intergenerational ethics, which regulates the relationship between contemporary people and future generations. Finally, the author provides a moral theory of prudence based on respect for one’s agency. This theory identifies what the present and the future selves owe to one another in diachronic self-regarding decisions. Moral Choices for Our Future Selves will be of interest to scholars and students working in ethics, moral psychology, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.
Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics
by Scott B. RaeNow in its third edition, this foremost college ethics text helps students form a basis for practical, ethical decision making in contemporary culture. Substantial updates and revisions include a new chapter on ethics and economics, online resources for instructors, current case studies, new material on bioethics and stem cell research, and much more.
Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics
by Scott RaeWith its unique union of theory and application and its well-organized, easy-to-use design, Moral Choices has earned its place as the standard text for college ethics courses. This fourth edition offers extensive updates, revisions, and three brand new chapters all designed to help students develop a sound and current basis for making ethical decisions in today's complex postmodern culture.Moral Choices outlines the distinctive elements of Christian ethics while avoiding undue dogmatism. The book also introduces other ethical systems and their key historical proponents, including Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant.After describing a seven-step procedure for tackling ethical dilemmas, author Scott Rae uses case studies to address some of today's most pressing social issues. He guides students in thinking critically and biblically about issues, including:AbortionReproductive TechnologiesEuthanasiaCapital PunishmentSexual EthicsThe Morality of WarGenetic Technologies and Human CloningEthics and EconomicsNEW: Creation CareNEW: Animal RightsNEW: Gun-ControlNEW: Race, Gender, and DiversityNEW: Immigration, Refugees, and Border ControlFEATURESRelevant Case Studies throughoutDiscussion questions at the end of each chapterSidebars with case studies for discussionRecommended further reading
Moral Clarity: A Guide for Grown-Up Idealists (Revised Edition)
by Susan NeimanAn inspiring and jargon-free look at how morals guide and inform our lives Moral philosopher Susan Neiman makes the tools of her trade relevant to real life inMoral Clarity, steering us clear of political dogma to offer instead a framework for forming clear opinions and taking responsible action on today’s urgent political and social questions. Neiman reaches back to the classic virtues—happiness, reason, reverence, and hope—that were held high by every Enlightenment thinker and draws on literature, evolutionary theory, and contemporary research to show that the pursuit of moral clarity is open to all who are committed to these ideals, believers and nonbelievers alike.
Moral Collectives: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Insights
by Stefan Joller Marija StanisavljevićWhether terrorist attacks, refugee or financial crises - the challenges of globalized modernity expose those areas that Durkheim described as anomic and whose processing still illustrates the central position of moral communication. There is some evidence to suggest that progressive functional differentiation does not erode morality, but actually promotes a remoralization of society through increasing communicative networking. Wherever grievances come to light and it is not foreseeable how they could be satisfactorily resolved in the modus operandi, morality provides a promising instrument which, in the form of moral collectives, is able to permeate everyday life and shape society. In this sense, the anthology is dedicated to a theoretical as well as empirical analysis of morality, which takes shape as a genuinely social quantity via moral collectives. This book is a translation of an original German edition. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation.
Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics, and the Values Wars
by Sikivu HutchinsonThe word atheism elicits shock, dread, anger, and revulsion among most African Americans. They view atheism as “amoral,” heresy, and race betrayal. Historically, the Black Church was a leading force in the fight for racial justice. Today, many black religious leaders have aligned themselves with the Religious Right. While black communities suffer economically, the Black Church is socially conservative on women’s rights, abortion, same sex marriage, and church/state separation. These religious “values wars” have further solidified institutional sexism and homophobia in black communities. Yet, drawing on a rich tradition of African American free thought, a growing number of progressive African American non-believers are openly questioning black religious and social orthodoxies. Moral Combat provides a provocative analysis of the political and religious battle for America’s soul. It examines the hijacking of civil rights by Christian fascism; the humanist imperative of feminism and social justice; the connection between K-12 education and humanism; and the insidious backlash of Tea Party-style religious fundamentalism against progressive social welfare public policy. Moral Combat also reveals how atheists of color are challenging the whiteness of “New Atheism” and its singular emphasis on science at the expense of social and economic justice. In Moral Combat, Sikivu Hutchinson highlights the cultural influence of African American humanist and atheist social thought in America. She places this tradition within the broader context of public morality and offers a far-reaching vision for critically conscious humanism
Moral Consciousness And Communicative Action
by Jürgen Habermas Christian Lenhardt Shierry Weber NicholsenThis long-awaited book sets out the implications of Habermas's theory of communicative action for moral theory. "Discourse ethics" attempts to reconstruct a moral point of view from which normative claims can be impartially judged. The theory of justice it develops replaces Kant's categorical imperative with a procedure of justification based on reasoned agreement among participants in practical discourse. Habermas connects communicative ethics to the theory of social action via an examination of research in the social psychology of moral and interpersonal development. He aims to show that our basic moral intuitions spring from something deeper and more universal than contingent features of our tradition, namely from normative presuppositions of social interaction that belong to the repertoire of competent agents in any society. Jürgen Habermas is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Frankfurt.
Moral Contract Theory and Social Cognition
by Peter TimmermanThis interdisciplinary work draws on research from psychology and behavioral economics to evaluate the plausibility of moral contract theory. In a compelling manner with implications for moral theory more broadly, the author's novel approach resolves a number of key contingencies in contractarianism and contractualism. Acting in accordance with principles that we could all agree to under certain conditions requires that agents are capable of taking up the perspectives of others. Research in social and developmental psychology shows just how challenging this can be. The author discusses in detail what implications findings on perspective-taking have for contract theory. He concludes with cautious optimism that, despite our limitations, it lies within our power to become better at perspective-taking and to adopt a contractarian or contractualist mode of moral thinking. This does however require us to be much more attentive to the standpoints of others than we tend to be. Contract theorists also assume that agents can be moved to comply with principles that would be the object of agreement, with some arguing they can be so moved out of their own interest. The book show that, in contrast to the suspicion of many philosophers, this idea is largely supported by research on the dynamics of trust and our ability to distinguish trustworthy from untrustworthy others. Bringing a welcome dose of realism to the debate on contract theory, the author shows the value of assessing moral theories from an empirical perspective.
Moral Courage
by Rushworth M. KidderIn a book rich with examples, Rushworth Kidder reveals that moral courage is the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics. He explains that the courage to act is found at the intersection of three elements: action based on core values, awareness of the risks, and a willingness to endure necessary hardship. He demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society -- and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant.
Moral Courage
by Rushworth M. KidderWhy did a group of teenagers watch a friend die instead of putting their own reputations at risk? Why did a top White House official decide to come clean and accept a prison sentence during Watergate? Why did a finance executive turn down millions out of respect for her employer? Why are some willing to risk their futures to uphold principles? What gives us the strength to stand up for what we believe?As these questions suggest, the topic of moral courage is front and center in today's culture. Enron, Arthur Andersen, the U.S. Olympic Committee, abusive priests, cheating students, domestic violence -- all these remind us that taking ethical stands should be a higher priority in our culture. Why, when people discern wrongdoing, are they sometimes unready, unable, or unwilling to act?In a book rich with examples, Rushworth Kidder reveals that moral courage is the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics. Defining it as a readiness to endure danger for the sake of principle, he explains that the courage to act is found at the intersection of three elements: action based on core values, awareness of the risks, and a willingness to endure necessary hardship. By exploring how moral courage spurs us to strive for core values, he demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society -- and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant.Moral Courage puts indispensable concepts and tools into our hands, equipping us to respond to the increasingly complicated moral challenges we face at work, at home, and in our communities. It enables us to make clear, confident decisions by exploring some litmus-test questions:Is the benefit worth the risk?Am I motivated by my desire to uphold my beliefs or just to impose them on others?Will my actions create collateral damage among those with no stake in the outcome?While physical courage may no longer be a necessary survival skill or an essential rite of passage out of childhood, few would dispute the growing need for moral courage as the true gauge of maturity. Treating this subject not as an esoteric branch of philosophy but as a practical necessity for modern life, Kidder deftly leads us to a clear understanding of what moral courage is, what it does, and how to get it.
Moral Cultivation and Confucian Character: Engaging Joel J. Kupperman (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)
by Chenyang Li; Peimin NiIn this volume, leading scholars in Asian and comparative philosophy take the work of Joel J. Kupperman as a point of departure to consider new perspectives on Confucian ethics. Kupperman is one of the few eminent Western philosophers to have integrated Asian philosophical traditions into his thought, developing a character-based ethics synthesizing Western, Chinese, and Indian philosophies. With their focus on Confucian ethics, contributors respond, expand, and engage in critical dialogue with Kupperman's views. Kupperman joins the conversation with responses and comments that conclude the volume.
Moral Damages: The Case for Abolishing Morality
by Stephen G. MorrisDespite the wide-ranging differences in people’s moral perspectives, there is near universal agreement that the world is generally better off when people allow morality to dictate their actions. But what if this view is wrong? What if the very thing that most people think is key to improving human relations is actually a primary contributor to unnecessary suffering and strife? In this book, Stephen G. Morris uses the latest empirical evidence to argue that eliminating all vestiges of morality from our lives (a position known as moral abolitionism) would likely yield benefits on both an individual and a societal level. Though the primary aim is to build a pragmatic case for why we ought to dispense with morality, Morris first argues that there are theoretical reasons for rejecting morality since we lack compelling arguments for the existence of moral facts. From there, he cites extensive evidence suggesting that morality does more harm than good through its negative influence on violence, politics, and personal relationships. Following a discussion of how we have at our disposal the necessary resources (i.e., empathy, prudential self-interest, and reason) to benefit humanity in a world without morality, Morris concludes by offering some specific steps societies could take to help eliminate morality’s corrupting influence and to improve human relations.
Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman
by John C. GibbsMoral Development and Reality elucidates the full range of moral development from superficial perception to a deeper understanding and feeling through social perspective-taking. Providing case studies and chapter questions, Gibbs creates a unique framework for understanding Kohlberg's and Hoffman's influential contributions.
Moral Development and the Social Environment
by Georg LindThe chapters in this volume are about moral dilemmas in two senses. First the authors focus on dilemmas, both real and hypothetical, which require moral judgements. The 'Heinz-Dilemma' part of Kohlberg's scoring systems is used as a point for level of moral development. There is also a Second sense, as those who study moral reasoning being in a dilemma as they attempt to integrate information from the domains of philosophy and psychology.
Moral Development in a Global World
by Lene Arnett JensenQuestions addressing people's moral lives, similarities and differences in the moral concepts of cultural groups, and how these concepts emerge in the course of development are of perennial interest. In a globalizing world, addressing what is universal and what is culturally distinctive about moral development is pressing. More than ever, well-substantiated knowledge of diverse peoples' moral compasses is needed. This book presents the cultural-developmental theory of moral psychology, findings from numerous countries, and four instruments for conducting cultural-developmental research. The central thesis is that humans are born with a shared moral heritage and that, as we develop from childhood into adulthood, we branch off in diverse directions shaped by culture - resulting in novelty and contention. An international group of eminent and cutting-edge scholars from anthropology, psychology, and linguistics addresses this timely topic and explores how gender, social class, and 'culture wars' between liberals and conservatives play into moral development across cultures.
Moral Dilemmas Involving Self-Driving Cars: How to Regulate Them and Why Your Opinion Matters
by Norbert Paulo Lando KirchmairExperts believe that self-driving cars will be much safer than conventional cars. However, there will still be some accidents, even fatal ones. The innovation of self-driving cars gives us the new, amazing, and, at the same time, arduous opportunity to decide in advance what should happen in which accident situation. It will force us to decide who must die in order to save others in dilemma situations.This book prepares readers to take an informed stance on the difficult moral dilemmas involving self-driving cars. It will convince them that the ethical and legal challenges posed by self-driving cars are real, novel, and unavoidable—and that they require a solution. It presents the problems involved in programming self-driving cars for dilemma situations, putting the reader in the position to develop their own well-informed opinion on the issues. The book also discusses the astonishing discrepancies between existing regulations for collisions involving self-driving cars in some jurisdictions and empirical findings about what people think about how they should be regulated. Finally, it presents advice for policymakers around the globe on how to regulate moral dilemmas involving self-driving cars.Moral Dilemmas Involving Self-Driving Cars will be of interest to a broad range of students, scholars, and policymakers interested in the ethics of self-driving vehicles.
Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Reasoning
by Carol Gibb HardingThis book deals with moral dilemmas and the development of ethical reasoning in two senses. First, the editor focuses on dilemmas, both real and hypothetical, which require moral judgments. The ""Heinz dilemma,"" part of Kohlberg's scoring system for level of moral development, is in some cases used as a point of departure for discussion. Problems with this particular dilemma as a scoring item are examined in detail, along with problems generated by similar dilemmas for moral reasoning in everyday life.Those who study moral reasoning and its development are in somewhat of a dilemma as they attempt to integrate information from the domains of philosophy and psychology. These essays investigate domain issues in varied cultural settings, and across genders and age ranges for what have been proposed as universals in moral judgment, as well as formulate theories that reflect both empirical evidence and logical process.The essays share a conception of human nature as inherently social, as well as a healthy respect for the problems or dilemmas which human sociality carries in its wake. Some of these problems are theoretical, such as those having to do with the moral reasoning or the classic issues of values justification. Other problems are practical, such as those having to do with distributive justice or methods of moral education. This volume will shed light on the process of resolving dilemmas both within philosophy and psychology.
Moral Dilemmas in Medieval Thought
by M. V. DoughertyThe history of moral dilemma theory often ignores the medieval period, overlooking the sophisticated theorizing by several thinkers who debated the existence of moral dilemmas from 1150 to 1450. In this book Michael V. Dougherty offers a rich and fascinating overview of the debates which were pursued by medieval philosophers, theologians and canon lawyers, illustrating his discussion with a diverse range of examples of the moral dilemmas which they considered. He shows that much of what seems particular to twentieth-century moral theory was well-known long ago – especially the view of some medieval thinkers that some forms of wrongdoing are inescapable, and their emphasis on the principle 'choose the lesser of two evils'. His book will be valuable not only to advanced students and specialists of medieval thought, but also to those interested in the history of ethics.
Moral Dilemmas of Feminism: Prostitution, Adultery, and Abortion (Thinking Gender)
by Laurie ShrageFirst published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Moral Dimensions: Permissibility, Meaning, Blame
by T. M. ScanlonScanlon reframes current philosophical debates as he explores the moral permissibly of an action. Blame, he argues, is a response to the meaning of an action rather than its permissibly. This analysis leads to a novel account of the conditions of moral responsibility and to important conclusions about the ethics of blame.
Moral Dimensions: Permissibility, Meaning, Blame
by T. M. ScanlonIn a clear and elegant style, T. M. Scanlon reframes current philosophical debates as he explores the moral permissibility of an action. Permissibility may seem to depend on the agent’s reasons for performing an action. For example, there seems to be an important moral difference between tactical bombing and a campaign by terrorists—even if the same number of non-combatants are killed—and this difference may seem to lie in the agents’ respective aims. However, Scanlon argues that the apparent dependence of permissibility on the agent’s reasons in such cases is merely a failure to distinguish between two kinds of moral assessment: assessment of the permissibility of an action and assessment of the way an agent decided what to do. Distinguishing between these two forms of assessment leads Scanlon to an important distinction between the permissibility of an action and its meaning: the significance for others of the agent’s willingness to act in this way. An action’s meaning depends on the agent’s reasons for performing it in a way that its permissibility does not. Blame, he argues, is a response to the meaning of an action rather than its permissibility. This analysis leads to a novel account of the conditions of moral responsibility and to important conclusions about the ethics of blame.