Living with uncertainty : the moral significance of ignorance / by Michael J. Zimmerman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zimmerman, Michael J., 1951-

Series:

Cambridge studies in philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethics.

Ignorance (Theory of knowledge).

Uncertainty.

Physical Description:

xv, 218 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Summary:

Every choice we make is set against a background of massive ignorance about our past, our future, our circumstances, and ourselves. Philosophers are divided on the moral significance of such ignorance. Some say that it has a direct impact on how we ought to behave - the question of what our moral obligations are; others deny this, claiming that it only affects how we ought to be judged in light of the behavior in which we choose to engage - the question of what responsibility we bear for our choices. Michael Zimmerman claims that our ignorance has an important bearing on both questions, and offers an account of moral obligation and moral responsibility that is sharply at odds with the prevailing wisdom. His book will be of interest to a wide range of readers in ethics.

Contents:

1 Ignorance and obligation 1

1.1 Three views of moral obligation 2

1.2 Ross on moral obligation 8

1.3 Against the Subjective View 13

1.4 Against the Objective View 17

1.5 The Prospective View refined 33

1.6 Objections to the Prospective View 42

1.7 Risking wrongdoing 57

2 Risk and rights 72

2.1 Prima facie moral obligation 73

2.2 Moral rights 78

2.3 Test case: fidelity 87

2.4 Test case: self-defense 97

3 Prospective possibilism 118

3.1 Actualism vs. Possibilism 119

3.2 A holistic approach 126

3.3 Intentional action 132

3.4 Extension of the account 138

3.5 Obligation and control 146

3.6 Shifts in obligation 151

4 Ignorance and responsibility 169

4.1 Moral obligation vs. moral responsibility 171

4.2 Ignorance as an excuse 173

4.3 Accuses 193.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 206-213) and indexes.

ISBN:

9780521894913

0521894913

OCLC:

213400658

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description