Author Description
On What Matters is a major work in moral philosophy. It is the long-awaited follow-up to Derek Parfit's 1984 book Reasons and Persons, one of the landmarks of twentieth-century philosophy. In this first volume Parfit presents a powerful new treatment of reasons and rationality, and a critical examination of three systematic moral theories -- Kant's ethics, contractualism, and consequentialism -- leading to his own ground-breaking synthetic conclusion. Along the way he discusses a wide range of moral issues, such as the significance of consent, treating people as a means rather than an end, and free will and responsibility. On What Matters is already the most-discussed work in moral philosophy: its publication is likely to establish it as a modern classic which everyone working on moral philosophy will have to read, and which many others will turn to for stimulation and illumination.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
How can we reconcile competing moral frameworks to establish a unified theory of reasons and rationality? Derek Parfit, a prominent moral philosopher, utilizes his extensive background in normative ethics to evaluate the internal consistency of Kantian ethics, contractualism, and consequentialism. By dissecting these major traditions, he proposes a synthetic approach that seeks to bridge the gaps between disparate moral doctrines.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A rigorous analysis of Kantian ethics and the categorical imperative
- A detailed examination of contractualist and consequentialist moral theories
- A comprehensive framework for understanding reasons and rationality
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on meta-ethics and normative theory rather than applied ethics or political policy
- This volume represents the first part of a larger project and does not contain the entirety of Parfit's final conclusions
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and philosophers frequently note the extreme density and technical precision of Parfit's prose, which demands significant background knowledge in analytic philosophy. Experts widely regard this work as a foundational text for contemporary moral discourse, often serving as a primary point of reference for graduate-level ethics seminars.
Page Count:
589
Publication Date:
2011-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191613460
ISBN-13:
9780191613463
Philosophy
Non-Fiction
Moral Philosophy
Ethics
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