Harmless Wrongdoing (Moral Limits of the Criminal Law)
This is the final volume of The Moral Limits of the Criminal Law by Feinberg (philosophy, University of Arizona). Harm to Others (1984) defines "harms" as intentional or reckless setbacks to a person's interest and analyzes this concept as it relates to interests, wants, hurts, offenses, and rights. Offense to Others (1985) discusses offensive nuisances and conduct (such as desecration of sacred symbols or obscenity), which are less serious but that induce unpleasant mental states in offended persons. Harm to Self (1986) examines the interplay of the concepts of legal paternalism, personal autonomy, voluntariness, and consent as they apply to such things as cigarette-smoking, drug use, or financial risk taking. And lastly, Harmless Wrongdoing discusses conduct that allegedly is morally wrong, but either does no harm at all or at least violates no right (e.g., consensual exploitation, marring of the aesthetic features of a community). In its scope, attention to principle and detail, careful argument, and respect for psychological and social realities, this last volume, as well as its predecessors, provides a first-rate analysis of which conduct the state may properly declare criminal and why. Feinberg's achievement moreover, is independent of whether or not one agrees with his analysis or adopts his conclusions. For informed readers and specialists. Robert Hoffman, York Coll., CUNYCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.