Social Philosophy / Edition 1

by Gerald F. Gaus

Overview

This accessible introductory text discusses how people in a pluralistic society such as ours can accept a common social ethic - a publicly justified morality. It presents analyses of the basic concepts, including justifications of liberty, harm to others, private property rights, distributive justice, environmental harms, help to others and offensive behaviour. Gaus acquaints the reader with the major figures in social philosophy - John Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume, John Rawls, David Gauthier, and Joel Feinberg - as well as recent communitarian philosophers. The basic technical aspects of social philosophy are also introduced: game theory, social choice theory, the ideas rational action, rational bargaining, and public goods. Throughout, helpful short examples and stories are used to illustrate the material.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563249495
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/30/1998
Series:	Explorations in Philosophy Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Part I The Idea of a Public Morality; Chapter 1 Moral Authoritarianism and Relativism; Chapter 2 Public Justification; Chapter 3 Value-promoting Public Moralities; Chapter 4 Utilitarianism As A Public Morality; Chapter 5 Strong Contractualism; Chapter 6 Weak Contractualism; Part II A Framework for Public Morality; Chapter 7 Liberty; Chapter 8 The Harm Principle; Chapter 9 Property; Chapter 10 Public Harms and Common Goods; Chapter 11 Two Quasi-Millian Principles;

Editorial Reviews

This accessible, college-level introduction to the major theories of public morality begins with a discussion of why we should seek a publicly justified public morality and how we might go about publicly justifying social principles. The latter part of the volume considers the basic principles of public morality, evaluating the concepts of J.S. Mill, Jeremy Bentham, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume, John Rawls, David Gauthier, and Joel Feinberg, as well as contemporary philosophers. Theories addressed include game theory, social choice theory, and the ideas of rational action, rational bargaining, and public good. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

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