The dimensions of consequentialism : ethics, equality, and risk / / Martin Peterson [[electronic resource]]

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910463327203321
• Autore: Peterson Martin <1975->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2013
• ISBN: 1-139-61125-9; 1-107-23814-5; 1-139-62241-2; 1-139-60941-6; 1-139-61311-1; 1-139-61683-8; 1-139-62613-2; 1-139-51924-7
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (ix, 217 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)
• Disciplina: 171/.5
• Soggetti: Consequentialism (Ethics)
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Preface -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Degrees of rightness -- 3. First dimension: persons -- 4. Second dimension: equality -- 5. Third dimension: risk -- 6. Multidimensional decision making -- 7. The best one-dimensional theory -- 8. The limits of consequentialism -- Appendix: multi-dimensional deontic logic.
• Sommario/riassunto: Consequentialism, one of the major theories of normative ethics, maintains that the moral rightness of an act is determined solely by the act's consequences. The traditional form of consequentialism is one-dimensional, in that the rightness of an act is a function of a single moral aspect, such as the sum total of wellbeing it produces. In this book Martin Peterson introduces a new type of consequentialist theory: multidimensional consequentialism. According to this theory, an act's moral rightness depends on several separate dimensions, including individual wellbeing, equality and risk. Peterson's novel approach shows that moral views about equality and risk that were previously thought to be mutually incompatible can be rendered compatible, and ; his precise theoretical discussion helps the reader to understand better the distinction between consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories. His book will interest a wide range of readers in ethics.