The Ideal of a Rational Morality: Philosophical Compositions

by Marcus G. Singer

Overview

The Ideal of a Rational Morality collects the most important essays by the distinguished moral philosopher Marcus G. Singer. Its guiding theme is the concept of a morality based in reason, which is presupposed in ordinary moral contexts and provides an ideal for improving ordinary morality and correcting moral judgements. Singer makes compelling claims that certain fundamental presuppositions are inescapable in moral thought, that fundamental moral principles can be proved, and that the concepts of truth and 'common sense' are essential to ethics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198250210
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/27/2003
Pages:	356
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Table of Contents

PrefaceI. The Ideal of a Rational MoralityII. On Truth in EthicsIII. Moral Theory and JustificationIV. The Methods of JusticeV. Ethics and Common SenseVI. Value Judgments and Normative ClaimsVII. Moral Worth and Fundamental RightsVIII. On Race and RacismIX. Judicial Decisions and Judicial OpinionsX. Institutional EthicsXI. Moral Issues and Social ProblemsXII. The Golden RuleXIII. Mill on Happiness and UtilityAdditional Notes, References, and Supplementary EssaysIndex

Editorial Reviews

"The essays exhibit a commendable erudition, especially in the history of ethical theory. From cover to cover its tone is urbane, and the book suggests wide reading, sometimes in unexpected places, by its author. I am pleased that Marcus Singer has brought these essays together and invited us to revisit them, as he has himself. It is an added pleasure that his invitation is tendered by way of this handsome and well-produced book." —Ethics

"It is well worth having a concentrated diet of Singer before us. Professor Singer is fond of Iris Murdoch's adage that doing philosophy 'is to explore one's own temperament, and yet at the same time attempt to discover the truth'. In this case both the temperament and the truths discovered will be found rewarding...the philosophy is replete with literary and other allusions, but is also rigorous. And this means that the judgments it comes up with are never simplistic, but are grounded in some breadth or depth of experience, what some might characterize as common sense."— Philosophy

From the Publisher