Ideal Code, Real World
Subtitle: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: December 18, 2000
Language: eng
Number of pages: 232
ISBN-13: 9780198250692
First sentence: There are many versions of rule-consequentialism.
Description: "What are appropriate criteria for assessing a theory of morality? In Ideal Code, Real World, Brad Hooker begins by answering this question, and then argues for a rule-consequentialist theory. According to rule-consequentialism, acts should be assessed morally in terms of impartially justified rules, and rules are impartially justified if and only if the expected overall value of their general internalization is at least as great as for any alternative rules. In the course of developing his rule - consequentialism, Hooker discusses impartiality, well-being, fairness, equality, the question of how the 'general internalization' of rules is to be interpreted by rule-consequentialism, and the main objections to rule-consequentialism. He also discusses the social contract theory of morality, act-consequentalism, and the question of which moral prohibitions and which duties to help others rule - consequentialism endorses. The last part of the book considers the implications of rule-consequentialism for some current controversies in practical ethics."--Jacket.