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Dear Prudence

The Nature and Normativity of Prudential Discourse

Guy Fletcher author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:8th Apr '21

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Dear Prudence cover

Philosophers have long theorized about what makes people's lives go well, and why, and the extent to which morality and self-interest can be reconciled. However, we have spent little time on meta-prudential questions, questions about prudential discourse--thought and talk about what is good and bad for us; what contributes to well-being; and what we have prudential reason, or prudentially ought, to do. This situation is surprising given that prudence is, prima facie, a normative form of discourse and cries out for further investigation of what it is like and whether it has problematic commitments. It also marks a stark contrast from moral discourse, about which there has been extensive theorizing, in meta-ethics. Dear Prudence: The Nature and Normativity of Prudential Discourse has three broad aims. Firstly, Guy Fletcher explores the nature of prudential discourse. Secondly, he argues that prudential discourse is normative and authoritative, like moral discourse. Thirdly, Fletcher aims to show that prudential discourse is worthy of further, explicit, attention both due to its intrinsic interest but also for the light it sheds on the meta-normative more broadly.

Guy Fletcher has written an excellent and much needed book about prudence—lucid, thoughtful, and, to my mind, persuasive. He is well acquainted with all the contemporary literature on his topic, and his treatment of the contributions of others is fair, sympathetic, and helpful. While the discussion becomes increasingly subtle and complex, Fletcher remains admirably clear throughout. * David McNaughton, The Philosophical Quarterly *
Those interested in theoretical issues concerning prudence or in meta-normativity outside the confines of morality would be well served by studying this book ... Fletcher is utterly successful in his primary goal of showing the importance of exploring the meta-normativity of prudence. * Christopher Frugé, Utilitas *
Guy Fletcher's Dear Prudence: The Nature and Normativity of Prudential Discourse...covers such topics as the nature of prudential judgment, the semantics of prudential language, the normativity of prudence, its implications for traditional meta-ethical views such as realism, anti-realism and error theory, and much else besides. * James L D Brown, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Frankfurt, Germany, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, Analysis *
Dear Prudence is written with an assuredly light-footed, Lewis-like quality: it never gets bogged down and encourages the reader to do much of the important thinking off the page. * Neil Sinclair, Department of Philosophy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom *
I think that it is a very impressive piece of work. It is fair to say that all of the topics addressed are significant and that Fletcher has new and interesting things to say about all of the topics he addresses. Anyone working in either metaethics or prudential value theory should read this book. * Jennifer Hawkins, Ethics *

ISBN: 9780198858263

Dimensions: 224mm x 147mm x 19mm

Weight: 406g

224 pages