Perfectionism / Thomas Hurka.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hurka, Thomas, 1952- author.

Contributor:

Oxford University Press, issuing body.

Series:

Oxford ethics series.

Oxford ethics series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Perfection--Moral and ethical aspects.

Perfection.

Ethics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 222 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Perfectionism is one of the leading moral views of the Western tradition. Defined broadly, it holds that what is right is whatever most promotes certain objective human goods such as knowledge, achievement, and deep personal relations.

Contents:

Contents

1. Introduction

I. The Perfectionist Idea

2. The Concept of Human Nature

2.1 Distinctiveness and Essence

2.2 Essence and Life

2.3 Nature: Objections

3. Accretions and Methods

3.1 Accretions

3.2 Perfectionist Naturalism

3.3 Defending Perfectionism

3.4 How Are Essences Known?

4. The Human Essence

4.1 The Aristotelian Theory: Physical Essence

4.2 The Aristotelian Theory: Rationality

4.3 The Aristotelian Theory: Objections

4.4 The Wrong Explanations?

II. Aristotelian Perfectionism

5. The Basic Structure

5.1 Maximizing Consequentialism

5.2 Time- and Agent-Neutrality

5.3 The Asymmetry

5.4 Competition and Co-operation

6. Aggregation

6.1 Summing and Averaging

6.2 Maximax

6.3 Single-Peak Perfection

6.4 Conclusion

7. The Well-Rounded Life

7.1 Lexical and Constant Comparisons

7.2 Balancing

7.3 Dilettantism and Concentration

7.4 Many-Person Balancing?

8. Trying, Deserving, Succeeding

8.1 Number and Quality

8.2 Attempt

8.3 Deserving Attempt

8.4 Success and Deserved Success

8.5 The Best Units?

9. Unity and Complexity

9.1 Generality: Extent and Dominance

9.2 Generality: Elaborations

9.3 Top-to-Bottom Knowledge

9.4 The Unified Life

9.5 Complex, Difficult Activities

10. Politics, Co-operation, and Love

10.1 Political Action

10.2 Co-operation

10.3 Love and Friendship

10.4 Generality: Objections

10.5 Generality: The Tradition

III. Perfectionism and Politics

11. Liberty

11.1 Autonomy as a Perfection

11.2 The Asymmetry Argument

11.3 Sexual Enforcement and Paternalism

11.4 Liberty versus Neutrality12. Equality: Abilities and Marginal Utility

12.1 Deep Equality

12.2 Desert and Aggregation

12.3 Natural Abilities

12.4 Diminishing Marginal Utility

13. Equality: Co-operation and the Market

13.1 Arguments from Co-operation

13.2 Illustrations and Limitations

13.3 Property and Property-Freedom

13.4 Self-Reliance versus Dependence

14. Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-983327-3

9786610528431

1-280-52843-5

0-19-802418-5

1-4294-0674-7

OCLC:

922952746