Common Morality
Deciding What to Do
Published on 2. September 2004
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-19-517371-0 (ISBN)
Description
Moral problems do not always come in the form of great social controversies. More often, the moral decisions we make are made quietly, constantly, and within the context of everyday activities and quotidian dilemmas. Indeed, these smaller decisions are based on a moral foundation that few of us ever stop to think about but which guides our every action. Here distinguished philosopher Bernard Gert presents a clear and concise introduction to what he calls common morality, the moral system that most thoughtful people implicitly use when making everyday, commonsense moral decisions and judgments. Common Morality is useful in that -- while not resolving every disagreement on controversial issues it is able to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable answers to moral problems. The distillation of over 40 years' of scholarship, this book is the most accessible version of Gert's influential theory of morality as well as an eye-opening look at the moral foundations of our everyday actions.
Reviews / Votes
Bernard Gert's descriptive account of morality may very well be one of the most commendable contributions to the moral philosophy produced in the later part of the twentieth century...this book is important contribution to contemporary moral philosophy, especially because of its wonderful mixture of Kantian, utilitarian, and contractarian insights. * Bhaskarjit Neog Ethical Perspectives * Common Morality lays out the comprehensive conditions for moral reasoning in a manner accessible to students * Andrew Michael Flescher, Journal of the American Academy of Religion * There is a refreshing honesty about Gert's style, which is no doubt connected to his denial that the moral rules will procure for the moral agent a single right answer for every possible moral situation. * Andrew Michael Flescher, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Adult education
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
425 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-517371-0 (9780195173710)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
02/2007
Oxford University Press Inc
€45.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
08/2004
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€15.49
Available for download
E-Book
08/2004
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€12.49
Available for download
Person
Bernard Gert is Stone Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Dartmouth College. He is also the author of Morality: Its Nature and Justification, and co-author of Bioethics, and Morality and the New Genetics.
Content
Introduction
Some Areas of Widespread Agreement
Distinguishing Features of Moral Judgements
Rationality and Human Nature
Areas of Moral Disagreement
Analogy between Morality and Grammar
Part I: The Moral System
Features of the Moral System
The Moral Rules
The Moral Ideals
General Characteristics of Moral Rules
Interpreting the Rules
Violations of Moral Rules Involve Liability to Punishment
Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules
The Two-Step Procedure for Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules
Moral Virtues and Vices
Summary and Test
Part II: The Moral Theory
The Justification of Morality
Characteristics of Moral Agents
Knowledge or Beliefs Required of All Moral Agents
Irrationality and Rationality
Rationality as Maximizing Satisfaction of Desires
Objectively Irrational Actions
Personally Irrational Actions
Reasons Versus Motives
All Reasons Have Justifying Force
Reasons and Desires
Adequate Reasons
Rationality, Morality, and Self-Interest
Impartiality
Two Philosophical Attempts to Achieve Moral Impartiality
Justifying Moral Impartiality
Why Act Morally?
Morality as an Informal Public System
The Role of Governments in Settling Unresolvable Moral Disagreements
Rights
The Consequences of Morality Not Always Providing a Unique Correct Answer
A Complete Moral Theory
Conclusion
Flow Charts
Notes
Index
Some Areas of Widespread Agreement
Distinguishing Features of Moral Judgements
Rationality and Human Nature
Areas of Moral Disagreement
Analogy between Morality and Grammar
Part I: The Moral System
Features of the Moral System
The Moral Rules
The Moral Ideals
General Characteristics of Moral Rules
Interpreting the Rules
Violations of Moral Rules Involve Liability to Punishment
Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules
The Two-Step Procedure for Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules
Moral Virtues and Vices
Summary and Test
Part II: The Moral Theory
The Justification of Morality
Characteristics of Moral Agents
Knowledge or Beliefs Required of All Moral Agents
Irrationality and Rationality
Rationality as Maximizing Satisfaction of Desires
Objectively Irrational Actions
Personally Irrational Actions
Reasons Versus Motives
All Reasons Have Justifying Force
Reasons and Desires
Adequate Reasons
Rationality, Morality, and Self-Interest
Impartiality
Two Philosophical Attempts to Achieve Moral Impartiality
Justifying Moral Impartiality
Why Act Morally?
Morality as an Informal Public System
The Role of Governments in Settling Unresolvable Moral Disagreements
Rights
The Consequences of Morality Not Always Providing a Unique Correct Answer
A Complete Moral Theory
Conclusion
Flow Charts
Notes
Index