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765Racism in the Head, Racism in the WorldIn William Verna Galston Gehring (ed.), Philosophical Dimensions of Public Policy, . pp. 91-96. 2002.
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40How to judge soldiers whose cause is unjustIn David Rodin & Henry Shue (eds.), Just and Unjust Warriors: The Moral and Legal Status of Soldiers, Oxford University Press. pp. 112--130. 2008.Having learned my just war theory at Michael Walzer’s figurative knee, for many years I accepted the independence of jus in bello from jus ad bellum unthinkingly. Just war theory consists of two separate parts, one concerning the legitimate grounds for going to war and the other the rules of engagement once war had begun. This two-part view, the “independence thesis,” went hand in hand with the “symmetry thesis,” or “the moral equality of soldiers”: soldiers whose cause is unjust have the same r…Read more
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618About AltruismPhilosophy and Public Policy Quarterly 28 (1/2): 2-6. 2008.When people act to aid others, they get something in return—at the very least, the satisfaction of having their desire to help fulfilled. Some conclude from this and other puzzles about motivation that people always act simply to benefit themselves. But this is an error: there is altruism in the world, although it is often inextricably linked with the well-being of the agent who does good
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6Leveling the Playing Field: Justice, Politics, and College AdmissionsRowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2004.Leveling the Playing Field examines the admissions policies of contemporary American colleges and universities in light of the assumption that enhancing the educational opportunities of lower-income and minority students would make American society more just. The book evaluates controversies about such issues as the nature of merit, the missions of universities, affirmative action, the role of standardized tests, legacy preference, early decision, financial aid, the test-prep industry, and athle…Read more
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14What Is Charity?Philosophy & Public Policy Quarterly 29 (3/4): 16. 2009.Once revered as the greatest of the classic theological virtues, charity now has something of a bad rap. Can it be rehabilitated with help from the Jewish sage Maimonides?
Areas of Specialization
Applied Ethics |
Social and Political Philosophy |
Normative Ethics |
Philosophy of Law |
17th/18th Century Philosophy |