Politics and morality / edited by Igor Primoratz.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Primoratz, Igor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political ethics.

Physical Description:

xxxi, 258 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke [England] ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Summary:

The (im)morality of politics is an inescapable issue for philosophers, politicians and common citizens. It is particularly pressing in times like ours, when dramatic developments put a severe strain on the moral constraints on political action, while our trust in politicians is sorely tried by their words and actions. This book is a timely contribution by prominent philosophers to the public debate, exploring the fundamental problem of the relation between politics and morality, and a string of specific issues such as: Should political morality be more permissive of deception, manipulation and violence? How are we to judge politicians who have compromised themselves on our behalf? Is there room for morality in international relations? Is patriotism a virtue? What are the rights and wrongs of lying and deception in politics? What are the moral costs of policies that keep out most of those seeking immigration or asylum? May we use torture in the 'war on terror'? What are the moral hazards of military obedience?

Contents:

1 Dirty Hands: Doing Wrong to do Right / Stephen de Wijze 3

2 There is No Dilemma of Dirty Hands / Kai Nielsen 20

3 Punishing the Dirty / Neil Levy 38

4 The Moral, the Personal and the Political / Garrett Cullity 54

5 Professional Ethics for Politicians? / Andrew Alexandra 76

6 Noble Cause Corruption in Politics / Seumas Miller 92

7 The Moral Reality in Realism / C. A. J. (Tony) Coady 113

8 Patriotism: Its Moral Credentials / James Gaffney 135

9 Political Complicity: Democracy and Shared Responsibility / Janna Thompson 153

10 'Barbarians at the Gates': The Moral Costs of Political Community / Rob Sparrow 170

11 Lying and Politics / David W. Lovell 189

12 Torture and Political Morality / John Kleinig 209

13 Military Obedience: Rhetoric and Reality / Jessica Wolfendale 228.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

023001965X

OCLC:

70660376

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description