Utilitarianism as a Public Philosophy
Part of Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Public Policy
- Author: Robert E. Goodin, Australian National University, Canberra
- Date Published: September 1995
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521468060
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook
Looking for an inspection copy?
Please email [email protected] to enquire about an inspection copy of this book
-
Utilitarianism, the great reforming philosophy of the nineteenth century, has today acquired the reputation for being a crassly calculating, impersonal philosophy unfit to serve as a guide to moral conduct. Yet what may disqualify utilitarianism as a personal philosophy makes it an eminently suitable guide for public officials in the pursuit of their professional responsibilities. Robert E. Goodin, a philosopher with many books on political theory, public policy and applied ethics to his credit, defends utilitarianism against its critics and shows how it can be applied most effectively over a wide range of public policies. In discussions of such issues as paternalism, social welfare policy, international ethics, nuclear armaments, and international responses to the environment crisis, he demonstrates what a flexible tool his brand of utilitarianism can be in confronting the dilemmas of public policy in the real world.
Read more- Goodin is well-known writer in this field; he edits the Journal of Political Philosophy (Blackwell)
- Lots of policy application of the theory from social welfare to environmental policy and tort liability
- Interdisciplinary - philosophy, political science, law, and economics
Reviews & endorsements
'… there is a great deal in this richly argued book for both moral philosophers and social scientists in general.' Roger Crisp, The Times Literary Supplement
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: September 1995
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521468060
- length: 368 pages
- dimensions: 227 x 152 x 23 mm
- weight: 0.504kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Part I. Introduction: Moral Bases of State Action:
1. Utilitarianism as a public philosophy
2. The state as a moral agent
Part II. Morality, Public and Private:
3. Do motives matter?
4. Government house utilitarianism
Part III. Shaping Private Conduct:
5. Responsibilities
6. Distributing credit and blame
7. Apportioning responsibilities
Part IV. Shaping Public Policies: Section A. Respecting and overriding preferences:
8. Liberalism and the best-judge principle
9. Laundering preferences
10. Heroic measures and false hopes
11. Theories of compensation
Section B. Ensuring social security:
12. Stabilising expectations
13. Compensation and redistribution
14. Basic income
15. Relative needs
C. International ethics
16. What is so special about our fellow countrymen?
17. Nuclear disarmament as a moral certainty
18. International ethics and the environmental crisis
References
Index.
Related Books
related journals
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×