Ethics Without PrinciplesJonathan Dancy presents a long-awaited exposition and defence of particularism in ethics, a view with which he has been associated for twenty years. He argues that the traditional link between morality and principles, or between being moral and having principles, is little more than a mistake. The possibility of moral thought and judgement does not in any way depend on an adequate supply of principles. Dancy grounds this claim on a form of reasons-holism, holding that what is a reason in one case need not be any reason in another, and maintaining that moral reasons are no different in this respect from others. He puts forward a distinctive form of value-holism to go with the holism of reasons, and he gives a detailed discussion, much needed, of the currently popular topic of 'contributory' reasons. Opposing positions of all sorts are summarized and criticized. Ethics Without Principles is the definitive statement of particularist ethical theory, and will be required reading for all those working on moral philosophy and ethical theory. |
Contents
1 What are the Options? | 1 |
Catching the Contributory | 13 |
From Holism to Particularism | 71 |
Holism in the Theory of Value | 163 |
216 | |
225 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept action actually affected allow already alternative answer appeal apply argument basic believe better Chapter choice claim committed complete concept conclusion consider consideration context contribution contributory contributory reason count course decisive depends desire distinction duty enabling establish example explanation expressed facie fact favour feature function further give given going ground holism idea inference instance intrinsic value invariant involved issue judgement knowledge least less look matter means merely moral moral reasons motivation move nature normative notion object offer overall particularism particularist perhaps picture play position possible practical prefer present principles promise properties question ranking rational reason relation relevant remain respect resultance role Ross rule seems sense side similar situation sort specified stand suggestion supervenience suppose tell theory things thought true trying turn understand whole wrong