
Partiality
Simon Keller(Author)
Princeton University Press
Published on 2. June 2013
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-0-691-15473-2 (ISBN)
Description
We are partial to people with whom we share special relationships--if someone is your child, parent, or friend, you wouldn't treat them as you would a stranger. But is partiality justified, and if so, why? Partiality presents a theory of the reasons supporting special treatment within special relationships and explores the vexing problem of how we might reconcile the moral value of these relationships with competing claims of impartial morality. Simon Keller explains that in order to understand why we give special treatment to our family and friends, we need to understand how people come to matter in their own rights. Keller first presents two main accounts of partiality: the projects view, on which reasons of partiality arise from the place that people take within our lives and our commitments, and the relationships view, on which relationships themselves contain fundamental value or reason-giving force. Keller then argues that neither view is satisfactory because neither captures the experience of acting well within special relationships.
Instead, Keller defends the individuals view, on which reasons of partiality arise from the value of the individuals with whom our relationships are shared. He defends this view by saying that we must accept that two people, whether friend or stranger, can have the same value, even as their value makes different demands upon people with whom they share different relationships. Keller explores the implications of this claim within a wider understanding of morality and our relationships with groups, institutions, and countries.
Instead, Keller defends the individuals view, on which reasons of partiality arise from the value of the individuals with whom our relationships are shared. He defends this view by saying that we must accept that two people, whether friend or stranger, can have the same value, even as their value makes different demands upon people with whom they share different relationships. Keller explores the implications of this claim within a wider understanding of morality and our relationships with groups, institutions, and countries.
Reviews / Votes
"[T]his is an excellent and engaging book."--Choice "Simon Keller's slim but lively book Partiality is a novel and original attempt to provide a justification for limited partiality within an otherwise impartial moral theory."--Michael Gibb, Oxford Journals "Keller's treatment of partiality is original and valuable for getting a clearer picture on one's own commitments, both in the social and the philosophical meaning."--Simon Derpmann, Ethical Theory and Moral PractiseMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-15473-2 (9780691154732)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Simon Keller
Partiality
E-Book
06/2015
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
from
€105.95
Available for download
Person
Simon Keller is associate professor of philosophy at Victoria University, Wellington. He is the author of The Limits of Loyalty.
Content
Preface vii Chapter 1 Special Relationships and Special Reasons 1 Chapter 2 My Projects 31 Chapter 3 Our Relationship 45 Chapter 4 Your Value 78 Chapter 5 My Response to Your Value 113 References 157 Index 161