The Dialectical Necessity of Morality: An Analysis and Defense of Alan Gewirth's Argument to the Principle of Generic ConsistencyAlan Gewirth's Reason and Morality, in which he set forth the Principle of Generic Consistency, is a major work of modern ethical theory that, though much debated and highly respected, has yet to gain full acceptance. Deryck Beyleveld contends that this resistance stems from misunderstanding of the method and logical operations of Gewirth's central argument. In this book Beyleveld seeks to remedy this deficiency. His rigorous reconstruction of Gewirth's argument gives its various parts their most compelling formulation and clarifies its essential logical structure. Beyleveld then classifies all the criticisms that Gewirth's argument has received and measures them against his reconstruction of the argument. The overall result is an immensely rich picture of the argument, in which all of its complex issues and key moves are clearly displayed and its validity can finally be discerned. The comprehensiveness of Beyleveld's treatment provides ready access to the entire debate surrounding the foundational argument of Reason and Morality. It will be required reading for all who are interested in Gewirth's theory and deontological ethics and will be of central importance to moral and legal theorists. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
Part I The Argument | 11 |
Part 2 Objections to the Argument | 63 |
Notes | 397 |
References | 487 |
| 499 | |
| 503 | |
Other editions - View all
The Dialectical Necessity of Morality: An Analysis and Defense of Alan ... Deryck Beyleveld No preview available - 1992 |
Common terms and phrases
accept the PGC achieve action agency Alan Gewirth amoralist argu assertoric categorically need Chapter claim rights concept consider that PPAO contingent contradict correlative criteria critics defend my freedom deny deontic deontological derived dialectical necessity dialectically necessary method discussion egoist entails epistemology espouse establish ethical egoism facie fact follows freedom and well-being Gewirth claims Gewirth's argument grounds human rights ibid implies inference internal viewpoint judgments justified Kalin least means ment Narveson neces necessarily necessary conditions need my freedom negative rights Nielsen noninterference objections to Stage other-referring particular occurrent purposes point of view positive rights PPA's PPAO's freedom premise prescribe prescriptive proactive prudential criterion prudential right Puolimatka pursue my freedom question R. M. Hare rational Reason and Morality right to freedom rights-claims rpvp self-interest sense Stage II statement take favorable account tion true universalizability universalization valid violate the PGC well-being are necessary