Title: From rationality to equality /
Authors: Sterba, James P.
Publisher: Oxford University Press,
Year: 2013
Subjects: Ethics; Equality; Liberty Philosophy; Libertarianism.; Libertarians.
Abstract: "Most contemporary moral and political philosophers would like to have an argument showing that morality is rationally required. In From Rationality to Equality, James P. Sterba provides just such an argument and further shows that morality, so justified, requires substantial equality. His argument from rationality to morality is based on the principle of non-question-beggingness and has two forms. The first assumes that the egoist is willing to argue for egoism non-question-beggingly, and the second only assumes that the egoist is willing to assent to premises she actually needs to achieve her egoistic goals. Either way, he argues, morality is rationally (i.e. non-question-beggingly) preferable to egoism."--Book jacket.
Contents: Introduction -- The historical connection to Immanuel Kant -- From rationality to morality -- Recent critics of the rationality-to-morality argument -- Alternative justifications for morality -- From liberty to equality -- Recent critics of the liberty-to-equality argument -- Alternative justifications for welfare and equality -- Conclusion.