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Many philosophers think that if you're morally responsible for a state of affairs, you must be a cause of it. Ingmar Persson argues that this strand of common sense morality is asymmetrical, in that it features the act-omission doctrine, according to which there are stronger reasons against performing some harmful actions than in favour of performing any beneficial actions. He analyses the act-omission doctrine as consisting in a theory of negative rights, according to which there are rights not to have one's life, body, and property interfered with, and a conception of responsibility as being based on causality. This conception of responsibility is also found to be involved in the doctrine of double effect. The outcome of Persson's critical examination of these ideas is that reasons of rights are replaced by reasons of beneficence, and we are made responsible for what is under the influence of our practical reasons. The argument gives rise to a symmetrical, consequentialist morality which is more demanding but less authoritative than common sense morality, because reasons of beneficence are weaker than reasons of rights. It is also argued that there are no non-naturalist external practical reasons, and all practical reasons are desire-dependent: so practical reasons cannot be universally binding. The question is whether such a morality possesses enough authority to command our compliance. This seems necessary in order for us to cope with the greatest moral problems of our time, such as aid to developing countries and anthropogenic climate change.
This work investigates whether common sense morality, centered on the act-omission doctrine and rights-based constraints, provides a sufficient framework for addressing contemporary global challenges. Ingmar Persson, a noted philosopher, evaluates the logical consistency of traditional moral responsibility and its reliance on causality. He argues that the conventional distinction between acts and omissions is flawed, proposing instead a symmetrical, consequentialist model that prioritizes beneficence over rigid rights-based constraints. By challenging the existence of non-naturalist practical reasons, Persson questions the universal authority of current moral systems in the face of issues like climate change and global inequality.
What You Will Find
Scholars and students of ethics recognize this text as a rigorous contribution to the debate surrounding consequentialism and the limits of common sense morality. Readers frequently note the high level of academic density and the demanding nature of the author's logical arguments.
Page Count:
336
Publication Date:
2013-11-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199676550
ISBN-13:
9780199676552
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