Consequentialism / Julia Driver.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Driver, Julia, 1961-

Series:

New problems of philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Consequentialism (Ethics).

Physical Description:

viii, 180 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York : Routledge, 2012.

Summary:

Consequentialism is the view that the rightness or wrongness of actions depend solely on their consequences. It is one of the most influential, and controversial, of all ethical theories. In this book, Julia Driver introduces and critically assesses consequentialism in all its forms.

After a brief historical introduction to the problem, Driver examines utilitarianism and the arguments of its most famous exponents, John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham, and explains the fundamental questions underlying utilitarian theory what value is to be specified and how it is to be maximized. Driver also discusses indirect forms of consequentialism, the important theories of motive consequentialism and virtue consequentialism, and explains why the distinction between subjective and objective consequentialism is so important.

Including helpful features such as a glossary chapter summaries, and annotate further reading at the end of each chapter, Consequentialism is ideal for students seeking an authoritative and clearly explained survey of this important problem. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Backround and history 5

1.1 Precursors of the classical approach 7

1.2 The classical approach 12

1.3 Jeremy Bentham 13

1.4 John Stuart Mill 16

1.5 Henry Sidgwick 20

1.6 Ideal utilitarianism 22

Chapter summary 25

Further reading 25

Chapter 2 Value and maximization 26

1.1 Value: greatest happiness 26

1.2 'Higher' pleasures 32

1.3 Preferences and desires 34

1.4 Objective list theories 36

1.5 Maximization 38

1.6 Scalar consequentialism 44

1.7 Causing good and negative responsibility 52

Chapter summary 65

Further reading 66

Chapter 3 Aggregation 67

1.1 Average vs. total 68

Chapter summary 84

Further reading 84

Chapter 4 Indirection 86

1.1 Motive-consequentialism: direct and indirect 91

Chapter summary 94

Further reading 95

Chapter 5 Objective and subjective consequentialism 96

1.1 More on friendship 102

1.2 The subjective version 114

1.3 Moral luck 121

1.4 Action'ownership' 124

Chapter summary 130

Further reading 130

Chapter 6 Consequentialism and practical deliberation 131

Chapter summary 144

Further reading 144

Chapter 7 Global consequentialism 145

Chapter summary 153

Further reading 153.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [166]-172) and index.

ISBN:

9780415772570

0415772575

9780415772587

0415772583

9780203149256

0203149254

OCLC:

166379174