Developing Deontology: New Essays in Ethical Theory

Developing Deontology  is a collection of six essays in ethical theory by some of the foremost moral philosophers of today. Within the collection, Michael Smith, Philip Stratton–Lake, Ralph Wedgwood, David Owens, Peter Vallentyne and Elizabeth Harman contribute new essays, which not only reflect on concepts that have been prominent in the development of deontological approaches but also offer an invaluable contribution to that development. These include agent–relativity, pluralism about the foundational principles of morality, double effect, consent, moral rights, and responsibility and blame for one’s actions and moral beliefs. The contributions to this book expand the boundaries of thought relating to deontology. Together, they provide a major addition to the field of moral philosophy for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and academics.

Notes on Contributors vi 1 Deontological Moral Obligations and Non–Welfarist Agent–Relative Values 1 Michael Smith 2 Recalcitrant Pluralism 15 Philip Stratton–Lake 3 Defending Double Effect 35 Ralph Wedgwood 4 The Possibility of Consent 53 David Owens 5 Enforcement Rights against Non–Culpable Non–Just Intrusion 73 Peter Vallentyne 6 Does Moral Ignorance Exculpate? 95 Elizabeth Harman Index 121

Brad Hooker  is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Reading, UK. He has been most closely associated with discussions of rule–consequentialism, although he has published papers on a wide variety of topics in ethical theory, including the idea that moral principles must be suitable for public acceptance. He is the author of  Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule–Consequentialist Theory of Morality  (2000) and the editor of  Rationality, Rules, and Utility  (1993), and  Truth in Ethics (1997). Professor Hooker is an associate editor of  Ratio  and the editor–in–chief of  Utilitas .

“Nevertheless, every author offers us a highly insightful and clarifying contribution.”  ( Ethical Perspectives , 1 September 2013)