Desert and Virtue: A Theory of Intrinsic Value

by Stephen Kershnar

Overview

Desert and Virtue: A Theory of Intrinsic Value presents a comprehensive examination of desert and what makes people deserve things. Stephen Kershnar demonstrates how desert relates to virtue, good deeds, moral responsibility, and personal change and growth through the life process. He persuasively argues that desert is a function that relates well-being, intrinsic value, and a "ground," which is defined as a person's character or act. Kershnar also explores whether his theory is consistent with the limited responsibility people have for who they are. Desert and Virtue's insightful analysis will be particularly useful for those interested in philosophy, religion, and other fields that touch on value theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739139363
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	10/29/2009
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Stephen Kershnar is professor of philosophy at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Theory of Intrinsic Value
Chapter 2: The Geometry of Desert
Chapter 3: The Time of Intrinsic Value
Chapter 4: The Momentary Theory of Desert
Chapter 5: Desert and the Principle of Universality
Chapter 6: The Ground of Desert
Chapter 7: The Building-Block Theory of Virtue
Chapter 8: Virtuous Attitudes
Chapter 9: Desert and Responsibility

Editorial Reviews

Despite the book's deceptively simple thesis, and its brevity, the author's argument presumes close familiarity with the sprawling, intricate vocabulary of contemporary meta-ethics. It also requires extensive attention to the current academic literature in analytic ethics. Kershnar's work is well laid out and supported and researched and engages interesting questions....It is recommended...primarily for professional philosophers and other academic researchers interested in foundational questions in contemporary meta-ethics.

Metapsychology Online

Thought-provoking and brimming with interesting ideas.

Social Theory and Practice

This book exhibits all of the virtues of Stephen Kershnar's work in general: it is highly intelligent, philosophically sophisticated, and both penetrating and provocative. Kershnar offers an alternative to the 'standard' treatment of desert and his discussions of the various dimensions of the concept of desert are engaging, well-informed by relevant literature, and illuminating. Desert and Virtue is admirably concise and fun to read.

John Fischer

This book makes a valuable and original contribution to the literature on desert. The argumentation is admirably clear and concise and the overall picture that emerges is in many ways a plausible and attractive one. Anyone interested in the issues Kershnar discusses will benefit from engaging with this fine work.

David Boonin

Thought-provoking and brimming with interesting ideas.

July 2010 Social Theory and Practice

This book makes a valuable and original contribution to the literature on desert. The argumentation is admirably clear and concise and the overall picture that emerges is in many ways a plausible and attractive one. Anyone interested in the issues Kershnar discusses will benefit from engaging with this fine work.--David Boonin, University of Colorado

This book exhibits all of the virtues of Stephen Kershnar's work in general: it is highly intelligent, philosophically sophisticated, and both penetrating and provocative. Kershnar offers an alternative to the 'standard' treatment of desert and his discussions of the various dimensions of the concept of desert are engaging, well-informed by relevant literature, and illuminating. Desert and Virtue is admirably concise and fun to read.--John Fischer, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Riverside

Thought-provoking and brimming with interesting ideas.--Social Theory and Practice, July 2010

From the Publisher

Despite the book's deceptively simple thesis, and its brevity, the author's argument presumes close familiarity with the sprawling, intricate vocabulary of contemporary meta-ethics. It also requires extensive attention to the current academic literature in analytic ethics. Kershnar's work is well laid out and supported and researched and engages interesting questions....It is recommended...primarily for professional philosophers and other academic researchers interested in foundational questions in contemporary meta-ethics.

Metapsychology Online Reviews