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Questions of FormulationIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.Argues that rule‐consequentialism should be formulated in terms of expected value rather than in terms of actual consequences. Also, argues that the theory should be formulated in terms of acceptance value and not merely in terms of the value of compliance with the code. Rule‐consequentialism can be formulated so that its rules must be suitable as a public code, and must be universal as opposed to relative.
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Predictability and ConventionIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.Considers whether rule‐consequentialism is undermined by the unpredictability of the consequences of whole codes of rules. Argues that, where we can calculate that some alternative is better than the status quo, we press forward with reform, and that where we cannot calculate that some alternative code is better than the status quo, we should stick with the status quo. Concludes by considering how ideal codes have to compromise with extant conventions, and how rule‐consequentialism can support p…Read more
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Prohibitions and Special ObligationsIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.We typically think that morality prohibits certain kinds of behaviour, such as killing the innocent, stealing, breaking promises, etc. This chapter explores rule‐consequentialism's ability to underwrite these prohibitions, and, in particular, to underwrite our views about when such prohibitions should be amended or overridden. Argues against absolute prohibitions and explores the role of judgement in rule‐consequentialism. The final section explains how rule‐consequentialism can endorse rules gi…Read more
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1Moral expertiseIn Edward Craig (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Genealogy to Iqbal, Routledge. 1998.
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Is Rule‐Consequentialism Guilty of Collapse or Incoherence?In Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.According to this chapter's arguments, rule‐consequentialism need not be guilty of either collapse into extensional equivalence with act‐consequentialism or incoherence. The chapter also explains how rule‐consequentialism and contractualism differ over what is the best account of impartially justified rules. The final two sections consider rule‐consequentialism's relation to intuitionism and Ross‐style pluralism and whether rule‐consequentialism fails to be a form of consequentialism.
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40Morality, Rules, and Consequences: A Critical Reader (edited book)Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2000.What determines whether an action is right or wrong? Morality, Rules, and Consequences: A Critical Reader explores for students and researchers the relationship between consequentialist theory and moral rules. Most of the chapters focus on rule consequentialism or on the distinction between act and rule versions of consequentialism. Contributors, among them the leading philosophers in the discipline, suggest ways of assessing whether rule consequentialism could be a satisfactory moral theory. Th…Read more
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IntroductionIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.Sets out five criteria for assessing normative moral theories. Then discusses the aspiration to find coherence between theory and our moral intuitions. Also argues that, other things being roughly equal, we rightly prefer a moral theory that offers a unified foundation for morality to one that does not. What is more, the chapter argues that, other things being roughly equal, we rightly prefer a moral theory that offers an impartial foundation for morality to one that does not.
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Help With Practical ProblemsIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.Tries to illustrate how rule‐consequentialism can be applied to other practical problems. Explains which traditional prohibitions on sexual activity rule‐consequentialism would endorse. Then explains how rule‐consequentialists would think about the permissibility of euthanasia.
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41Developing Deontology: New Essays in Ethical Theory (edited book)Wiley-Blackwell. 2012._Developing Deontology_ consists of six new essays in ethical theory by leading contemporary moral philosophers. Each essay considers concepts prominent in the development of deontological approaches to ethics, and these essays offer an invaluable contribution to that development. Essays are contributed by Michael Smith, Philip Stratton-Lake, Ralph Wedgewood, David Owens, Peter Vallentyne, and Elizabeth Harman - all leading contemporary moral philosophers Each essay offers an original and previo…Read more
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Act‐ConsequentialismIn Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality, Oxford University Press Uk. 2000.Act‐consequentialism is best construed as a criterion of rightness, not a decision procedure. Act‐consequentialism recommends that our procedure for making moral decisions employs rules very like the ones endorsed by rule‐consequentialism. However, the chapter highlights the remaining significant differences between act‐consequentialism and rule‐consequentialism over prohibitions, and discusses the extreme demandingness of act‐consequentialist duties to aid.
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56Sacrificing for the Good of Strangers—Repeatedly (review)Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 59 (1): 177. 1999.
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206Moral theory and its role in everyday moral thought and actionIn Aaron Zimmerman, Karen Jones & Mark Timmons (eds.), Routledge Handbook on Moral Epistemology, Routledge. pp. 387-400. 2018.The chapter juxtaposes the fairly quick and automatic thinking and decision making that constitutes everyday moral thought and action with the slower, more complicated, and more reflective thinking that steps beyond everyday moral thought. Various difficulties that can slow down everyday moral thought are catalogued in this paper. The paper explains how dealing with many of these difficulties leads to thinking about moral principles. And, even where there are not such difficulties, everyday mora…Read more
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71What makes a judgement a moral judgementJournal of Political Theory and Philosophy 1 (1): 97-112. 2017.What distinguishes moral judgements from judgements of other kinds? In addressing this question, this paper tries to remain as neutral as possible about which moral judgments are correct. The paper addresses objections to thinking that the defining feature of moral judgements is their other-regarding grounds, or their social function, or their motivational force, or their connection to reactive attitudes such as guilt, indignation, and resentment. The proposal this paper makes is that a judgment…Read more
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434II*—Rule-Consequentialism, Incoherence, Fairness1Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 95 (1): 19-36. 1995.Brad Hooker; II*—Rule-Consequentialism, Incoherence, Fairness1, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Volume 95, Issue 1, 1 June 1995, Pages 19–36, https://d.
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16Rule‐Consequentialism and Obligations Toward the NeedyPacific Philosophical Quarterly 79 (1): 19-33. 1998.Most of us believe morality requires us to help the desperately needy. But most of us also believe morality doesn't require us to make enormous sacrifices in order to help people who have no special connection with us. Such self‐sacrifice is of course praiseworthy, but it isn't morally mandatory. Rule‐consequentialism might seem to offer a plausible grounding for such beliefs. Tim Mulgan has recently argued in Analysis and Pacific Philosophical Quarterly that rule‐consequentialism cannot do so. …Read more
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20Brad Hooker, Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of Morality (review)Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 7 (1): 91-94. 2004.
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45Contractualism, spare wheel, aggregationIn Matt Matravers (ed.), Scanlon and Contractualism, Frank Cass Publishers. pp. 53-76. 2003.
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1Self-interest, ethics, and the profit motiveIn Roger Crisp & Christopher Cowton (eds.), Business ethics: perspectives on the practice of theory, Oxford University Press. pp. 27--41. 1998.
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18E. E. Constance Jones was a student of Henry Sidgwick's. Her article is mainly about the idea that there are ‘two supreme principles of human action, both of which we are under a “manifest obligation” to obey.’ One is the principle of Rational Benevolence and the other is the principle of Rational Self-Love. Jones contends that ‘Rational Benevolence implies or includes the Rationality of Self-Love’. There is one reading of Jones's contention that makes it undeniable but other readings that make …Read more
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2462The Elements of Well-BeingJournal of Practical Ethics 3 (1): 15-35. 2015.This essay contends that the constitutive elements of well-being are plural, partly objective, and separable. The essay argues that these elements are pleasure, friendship, significant achievement, important knowledge, and autonomy, but not either the appreciation of beauty or the living of a morally good life. The essay goes on to attack the view that elements of well-being must be combined in order for well-being to be enhanced. The final section argues against the view that, because anything …Read more
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28Right, wrong, and rule-consequentialismIn Henry West (ed.), The Blackwell Guide to Mill's Utilitarianism, Wiley-blackwell. pp. 233-248. 2008.
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63Theories of welfare, theories of good reasons for action, and ontological naturalismPhilosophical Papers 20 (1): 25-36. 1991.No abstract
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15Review of Nicholas Rescher, Fairness: Theory and Practice of Distributive Justice (review)Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 2003 (8). 2003.
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100Thinking about reasons: themes from the philosophy of Jonathan Dancy (edited book)Oxford University Press. 2013.Thinking about Reasons collects fourteen new essays on ethics and the philosophy of action, inspired by the work of Jonathan Dancy—one of his generation's most influential moral philosophers.
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164When is Impartiality Morally Appropriate?In Brian Feltham & John Cottingham (eds.), Partiality and Impartiality: Morality, Special Relationships, and the Wider World, Oxford University Press. pp. 26-41. 2010.With respect to morality, the term ‘impartiality’ is used to refer to quite different things. My paper will focus on three: 1. Impartial application of good (first-order) moral rules 2. Impartial benevolence as the direct guide to decisions about what to do 3. Impartial assessment of (first-order) moral rules What are the relations among these three? Suppose there was just one good (first-order) moral rule, namely, that one should choose whatever one thinks will maximize aggregate good. If there…Read more
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234Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentialist Theory of MoralityOxford University Press UK. 2000.What are appropriate criteria for assessing a theory of morality? In Ideal Code, Real World, Brad Hooker begins by answering this question, and then argues for a rule-consequentialist theory. According to rule-consequentialism, acts should be assessed morally in terms of impartially justified rules, and rules are impartially justified if and only if the expected overall value of their general internalization is at least as great as for any alternative rules. In the course of developing his rule-…Read more
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Areas of Specialization
Normative Ethics |
Meta-Ethics |
Value Theory |
Social and Political Philosophy |
Areas of Interest
Normative Ethics |
Value Theory |
Meta-Ethics |