Synopses & Reviews
This third volume of Lewis' papers is devoted to his work in ethics and social philosophy. Topics covered include the logic of obligation and permission; decision theory and its relation to the idea that beliefs might play the motivating role of desires; a subjectivist analysis of value; dilemmas in virtue ethics; the problem of evil; problems about self-prediction; social coordination, linguistic and otherwise; alleged duties to rescue distant strangers; toleration as a tacit treaty; nuclear warfare; and punishment. The purpose of this collection, and the two preceding volumes, is to disseminate more widely the work of an eminent and influential contemporary philosopher.
Synopsis
This third volume of Lewis's papers is devoted to his work in ethics and social philosophy.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Semantic analyses for dyadic deontic logic; 2. A problem about permission; 3. Reply to McMichael; 4. Why ain'cha rich?; 5. Desire as belief I; 6. Desire as belief II; 7. Dispositional theories of value; 8. The Trap's dilemma; 9. Evil for freedom's sake?; 10. Do we believe in penal substitution?; 11. Convention: reply to Jamieson; 12. Meaning without use: reply to Hawthorne; 13. Illusory innocence?; 14. Mill and Milquetoast; 15. Academic appointments: why ignore the advantage of being right?; 16. Devil's bargains and the real world; 17. Buy like a MADman, use like a NUT; 18. The punishment that leaves something to chance; 19. Scriven on human unpredictability (with Jane S. Richardson).