Introduction Reasons and Values Reasons Values Well-Being Right and Wrong Wrongness and Reasons The Structure of Contractualism Responsibility Promises Relativism Appendix: Williams on Internal and External Reasons Notes Bibliography Index
T. M. Scanlon is Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, Emeritus, at Harvard University.
[Scanlon's] discussions are deep and honest, and they illuminate
many key concepts of moral philosophy: well being, trust,
friendship, loyalty, promises. It would be—and will be—the business
of more than one doctoral thesis to assess his success.
*New York Times Book Review*
T. M. Scanlon is a scrupulous, astringent, relentlessly exact
writer, without any of the fuss and flutter that come from the
desire to please. His book is pure philosophy, unadulterated.
*New York Review of Books*
Thomas Scanlon's understanding of [morality's] complexity and of
its sources in the variety of human relations and values is one of
the virtues of this illuminating book. To say that it is long
awaited would be an understatement. Scanlon has been one of the
most influential contributors to moral and political philosophy for
years...The appearance of his first book, a complex and powerful
argument for the moral theory first sketched in his essay
Contractualism and Utilitarianism, is a philosophical event.
*London Review of Books*
I rejoice in the appearance of this magnificent book. It is not
often that a work on ethics opens up a novel, arresting position on
matters that have been debated for thousands of years. And What We
Owe To Each Other does precisely that.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Mr. Scanlon has produced a compelling explanation of the moral
thinking behind such duties as truth-telling and promise-keeping,
and for this he deserves great praise.
*Washington Times*
Seeks to explain how human societies might find moral authority
without appealing to a deity or inherited laws. The answer comes
from a sort of idealized social negotiation—the process of
thinking, in good faith, with a community of other good-faith
thinkers.
*New York Times*
What do we owe to each other? What obligations of honesty, respect,
trust and consideration exist between people? That is the deep and
ancient question Harvard philosopher T. M. Scanlon attempts to
illuminate in this closely argued book. Its success as an argument
illustrates why moral philosophy should matter...Scanlon is a
careful and precise thinker, a leading figure in contemporary
philosophy, and here he is working at the height of his
considerable powers.
*Globe and Mail*
Scanlon presents the most complete statement to date of his version
of 'contractualism'...He treats as basic the notion that we have
reason to want to live with others and are motivated to seek
agreement on a set of principles for the general regulation of
behavior that others similarly motivated could not reasonably
reject...He carefully addresses many concerns that have been raised
about his and similar versions of contractualism; anyone discussing
contractualism will have to consider his account.
*Choice*
Scanlon offers a sharp challenge to much contemporary moral
philosophy. Most philosophers think that agreements between people
play only a subsidiary role in moral theory. What is right or wrong
is independent of what people accept. Agreements rest on morality;
they do not underlie it. Scanlon dissents. In his conception,
morality depends on principles it would not be reasonable for
people to reject. These agreements do not derive from further moral
facts. Scanlon also challenges the view that desires give reasons
for action, leveling heavy artillery at the contrary position of
Bernard Williams. The originality, scope, and careful argument of
this work mark it as an indispensable book.
*Library Journal*
[Scanlon's] discussions are deep and honest, and they illuminate
many key concepts of moral philosophy: well being, trust,
friendship, loyalty, promises. It would be-and will be-the business
of more than one doctoral thesis to assess his success. -- Simon
Blackburn * New York Times Book Review *
T. M. Scanlon is a scrupulous, astringent, relentlessly exact
writer, without any of the fuss and flutter that come from the
desire to please. His book is pure philosophy, unadulterated. --
Stuart Hampshire * New York Review of Books *
Thomas Scanlon's understanding of [morality's] complexity and of
its sources in the variety of human relations and values is one of
the virtues of this illuminating book. To say that it is long
awaited would be an understatement. Scanlon has been one of the
most influential contributors to moral and political philosophy for
years...The appearance of his first book, a complex and powerful
argument for the moral theory first sketched in his essay
Contractualism and Utilitarianism, is a philosophical event.
-- Thomas Nagel * London Review of Books *
I rejoice in the appearance of this magnificent book. It is not
often that a work on ethics opens up a novel, arresting position on
matters that have been debated for thousands of years. And What
We Owe To Each Other does precisely that. -- Philip Pettit *
Times Literary Supplement *
Mr. Scanlon has produced a compelling explanation of the moral
thinking behind such duties as truth-telling and promise-keeping,
and for this he deserves great praise. -- Douglas A. Sylva *
Washington Times *
Seeks to explain how human societies might find moral authority
without appealing to a deity or inherited laws. The answer comes
from a sort of idealized social negotiation-the process of
thinking, in good faith, with a community of other good-faith
thinkers. -- Sam Anderson * New York Times *
What do we owe to each other? What obligations of honesty, respect,
trust and consideration exist between people? That is the deep and
ancient question Harvard philosopher T. M. Scanlon attempts to
illuminate in this closely argued book. Its success as an argument
illustrates why moral philosophy should matter...Scanlon is a
careful and precise thinker, a leading figure in contemporary
philosophy, and here he is working at the height of his
considerable powers. -- Mark Kingwell * Globe and Mail *
Scanlon presents the most complete statement to date of his version
of 'contractualism'...He treats as basic the notion that we have
reason to want to live with others and are motivated to seek
agreement on a set of principles for the general regulation of
behavior that others similarly motivated could not reasonably
reject...He carefully addresses many concerns that have been raised
about his and similar versions of contractualism; anyone discussing
contractualism will have to consider his account. -- D. R. C. Reed
* Choice *
Scanlon offers a sharp challenge to much contemporary moral
philosophy. Most philosophers think that agreements between people
play only a subsidiary role in moral theory. What is right or wrong
is independent of what people accept. Agreements rest on morality;
they do not underlie it. Scanlon dissents. In his conception,
morality depends on principles it would not be reasonable for
people to reject. These agreements do not derive from further moral
facts. Scanlon also challenges the view that desires give reasons
for action, leveling heavy artillery at the contrary position of
Bernard Williams. The originality, scope, and careful argument of
this work mark it as an indispensable book. -- David Gordon *
Library Journal *
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