Morality: Its Nature and JustificationFor more than thirty years, philosopher Bernard Gert has been developing and refining his distinctive and comprehensive moral theory. His classic work, The Moral Rules: A New Rational Foundation for Morality, was first published in 1970. In 1988, Oxford published a fourth revision titled Morality: A New Justification of the Moral Rules. In this final revision, Gert has produced the fullest and most sophisticated account of this influential theoretical model. Here, he makes clear that morality is an informal system that does not provide unique answers to every moral question but does always limit the range of morally acceptable options, and so explains why some moral disagreements cannot be resolved. The importance placed on the moral ideals also makes clear that the moral rules are only one part of the moral system. A chapter that is devoted to justifying violations of the rules illustrates how the moral rules are embedded in the system and cannot be adequately understood independently of it. The chapter on reasons includes a new account of what makes one reason better than another and elucidates the complex hybrid nature of rationality. Although Gert's moral theory is sophisticated, it is presented with a clarity that enables it to serve as an excellent introduction for beginning philosophy students, as well as fruitful reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. Unlike most moral theories, his account of morality is developed in sufficient detail to be useful to those interested in problems of applied ethics. This book will appeal to those engaged in business ethics, engineering ethics, environmental ethics, and especially medical ethics. In the manner of the works of Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill, this book addresses the general philosophical reader and at the same time makes an important contribution to the philosophical literature. |
Contents
Chapter | 3 |
Rationality and Irrationality | 29 |
Chapter 3 | 53 |
Chapter 4 | 89 |
Chapter 5 | 109 |
Impartiality | 130 |
THE MORAL SYSTEM AND ITS JUSTIFICATION | 157 |
The Second Five | 186 |
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Common terms and phrases
account of morality acting immorally acting irrationally acting morally adequate reason answer avoid behavior benefit Bernard Gert categorical imperative chapter cheating claim common morality concerned consequences consequentialist counts depriving of freedom disability disagreement egoism ethical egoism ethical relativism evil five rules fully informed harm immoral action impartial rational persons impartial with regard involves irrational action irrational desires irrational to act kill kind of violation kinds of actions moral agents moral attitude moral impartiality moral judgments moral rules moral system moral virtues morality requires morally acceptable morally relevant features motives one's self-interest oneself person can publicly personal virtues persons would publicly philosophers prevent psychological egoism publicly allow punishment question R. M. Hare rational egoism rationally allowed reasons for acting requires impartiality result rule prohibiting simply society someone suffering system that applies tion tional persons traits unjustified violations veil of ignorance violating a moral weakly justified