Human Welfare and Moral Worth

Kantian Perspectives

Thomas E Hill, Jr author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:11th Jul '02

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Human Welfare and Moral Worth cover

Thomas Hill, a leading figure in the recent development of Kantian moral philosophy, presents a series of essays that interpret and develop Kant's ideas on ethics. The first part of the book focuses on basic concepts: a priori method, a good will, categorical imperatives, autonomy, and constructivist strategies of argument. Hill goes on to consider aspects of human welfare, and then moral worth--the nature and grounds of moral assessment of persons as deserving esteem or blame. He offers illuminating discussions of happiness, beneficence, personal values, conscience, moral desert, moral dilemmas, and feelings of regret. He is critical of Kant at many points, but he shows how many familiar objections miss the mark. Two previously unpublished essays challenge the views of other influential Kant scholars and defend alternative interpretations of Kant on beneficence, supererogation, and what it means to 'set oneself an end'. These clear and careful writings show moral, poltical, and social philosophers just how valuable Kantian ethical theory can be in addressing practical matters.

This collection brings together work of the calibre that has made Thomas E. Hill, Jr., a leader in the interpretation and development of Kant's ethics. Hill exhibits a rare combination of sensitivity to complex moral issues, insight into Kant's texts, and analytical incisivenss. In clear, jargon-free prose, these essays expertly draw the reader into the core of Kantian moral philosophy. * Ethics *
Human Welfare and Moral Worth gives us plenty to think about ... the volume has the great virtue of defending positions that are subtle and reasonable as well as innovative and engaging. * Ethics *
... splendidly produced volume. Thomas Hill has developed a distinctive line of Kant exposition and analysis which will repay close reading and careful consideration. Hill is an attentive and sensitive interpreter of Kant who takes Kant's major ethical writings as a starting point rather than an end point of argument. Hill is concerned to establish how Kant's practical philosophy engages with our lives and society and in an instructive and stimulating way. Hill is scholarly without being unduly scholastic. His project is to bring Kant's ideas alive by relating them to our contemporary moral and political dilemmas. In this I think he succeeds. * Kantian Review *

ISBN: 9780199252633

Dimensions: 233mm x 156mm x 23mm

Weight: 601g

428 pages