Synopses & Reviews
Sorting Out Ethics is a characteristically lucid and lively survey of rival ethical theories by one of the most influential moral philosophers of the century. It also constitutes a definitive summary of Hare's own fundamental ethical position. The book's main theme is that objectivity in moral thinking is not to be sought by making moral questions into questions of fact; this leads inevitably to relativism, tying us to particular cultures and languages. Objectivity is to be sought, rather, by emphasizing the universally prescriptive character of moral language, which all cultures can share, and so using it to resolve their moral differences. An objective moral prescription, as Kant saw, is one upon which all rational thinkers can agree.
Review
"...the book is warmly to be recommended. Students, especially, will appreciate its central section, in which developments in moral philosophy during the present century are traced with exceptional clarity."--International Philosophical Quarterly
"...the book is extremely effective: written with customary clarity and vigour, and succinctly summarizing and cross-referencing the argument of the earlier works, it should replace them on reading lists as a student's first exposure to Hare's views."--Times Literary Supplement
"...the book is warmly to be recommended. Students, especially, will appreciate its central section, in which developments in moral philosophy during the present century are traced with exceptional clarity."--International Philosophical Quarterly
"...the book is extremely effective: written with customary clarity and vigour, and succinctly summarizing and cross-referencing the argument of the earlier works, it should replace them on reading lists as a student's first exposure to Hare's views."--Times Literary Supplement
Synopsis
"...the book is extremely effective: written with customary clarity and vigour, and succinctly summarizing and cross-referencing the argument of the earlier works, it should replace them on reading lists as a student's first exposure to Hare's views."--
Times Literary Supplement Sorting Out Ethics is a characteristically lucid and lively survey of rival ethical theories by one of the most influential moral philosophers of the century. It also constitutes a definitive summary of Hare's own fundamental ethical position.
Synopsis
"...the book is extremely effective: written with customary clarity and vigour, and succinctly summarizing and cross-referencing the argument of the earlier works, it should replace them on reading lists as a student's first exposure to Hare's views."--Times Literary Supplement
Sorting Out Ethics is a characteristically lucid and lively survey of rival ethical theories by one of the most influential moral philosophers of the century. It also constitutes a definitive summary of Hare's own fundamental ethical position.
About the Author
R. M. Hare is Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford, and Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, Gainesville
Table of Contents
PART I. THE ENTERPRISE OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY
1. Philosophy of Language in Ethics [previously published]
2. Defence of the Enterprise
PART II: A TAXONOMY OF ETHICAL THEORIES (The Axel Hagerstrom Lectures)
3. Taxonomy
4. Naturalism
5. Intuitionism
6. Emotivism
7. Rationalism
PART III. KANT
8. Could Kant Have Been a Utilitarian? [previously published]
Complete Bibliography of the Writings of R. M. Hare
Bibliography of Other Writings. Index.