The Principle of Double Effect

Reviews / Votes

"David Cerny shows in this book that there are several formulations of the principle of double effect, and that they need to be distinguished if we wish to think more carefully about good or possibly good acts that have bad consequences. He presents a novel defense against various objections that have been raised against it. His analysis of the principle's historical context and development allows him to shed new light on the various distinctions presupposed by its correct understanding and use." - Thomas M. Osborne Jr., Chair, Department of Philosophy, University of St. Thomas, USA

"David Cerny's monograph is authoritative, imaginative, and cutting-edge. It is the only work I know of that sheds light on the intellectual origins of the principle of double effect and relates them to the contemporary debate in a manner that dispels misunderstandings and advances our understanding or the principle. The 'Principle of Double Effect' could easy be the standard book on the topic for the next ten or twenty years and both students and specialists will learn much from it." - George Pavlakos, Professor of Law and Philosophy, University of Glasgow, UK

"The Doctrine of Double Effect is one of the most important principles in applied ethics yet, at the same time, one of the most puzzling. In his book, David Cerny offers a combination of an historical and an analytical analysis in order to clarify and explain it. His book is compulsory reading for anybody interested in ethical theory and in applied ethics." - Professor Daniel Statman, Chair, Department of Philosophy, University of Haifa, Israel

"The Doctrine of Double Effect is a mainstay of non-consequentialist moral thinking, yet remains misunderstood, and fundamental doubts about it are widespread. In this splendid and path-breaking book, David Cerny does more than has ever been done before to uncover the historical origins of this view, to explore its different formulations, and to defend the reasoning behind it. This is a rare achievement, a genuine contribution to analytic ethical theory and applied moral philosophy, and at the same time an exemplary model of the relevance of the history of ideas to philosophy." - Saul Smilansky, Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Haifa, Israel