Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Elaborates an ethic in which beneficence on a personal and communal level has moral force; proposes the idea of an interplay between compassion and reason to help address moral problems; and sketches the conditions necessary for a democratic approach to such problems.
The author deals with the problem of shaping a more than minimalistic ethic in a pluralistic world. He discusses the notions of various types of moral valuing and the idea of a homeostatic balance between the demands of individuals and the requirements of community. He also proposes an idea of an interplay between compassion and reason which can help address moral problems; and, lastly, he sketches the necessary conditions for a democratic approach to such problems.
"This book addresses an essential theme in bioethics and ethics, namely, the different obligations to moral strangers, acquaintances, and friends. As such, it goes to the heart of the nature of obligations that are properly termed ethical and represents a telling criticism of a major line of thinking in this area." — George J. Agich, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
"The author develops an interesting and original analysis of social relationships. His explication and application of Rousseau's works to the subject is most helpful. His examples, especially those from his personal experience, clarify his points, accentuate their importance, and animate the text. There are few books that cover this broad territory with such philosophical scholarship, sophistication, and depth." — Chris Hackler, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Suffering, Communities, and Interconnections
2. Moral Acquaintances: A Way of Relating
3. Social Connectedness, Social Contract, A Prioris and Strangers
4. Crafting an Ethic
5. Summing Up: Problems and Approaches
Notes
Index