•  31
    Semantics, Future Generations, and the Abortion Problem
    Social Theory and Practice 3 (4): 461-485. 1975.
  •  31
    Is World Poverty a Moral Problem for the Wealthy?
    The Journal of Ethics 8 (4): 397-408. 2004.
    This article discusses the question of poverty and wealth in light of several theses put forward by Larry Temkin. The claim that there is a sort of cosmic injustice involved when great disparities of ability or of wealth are found. He is concerned especially about disparities that are undeserved. It is agreed that this is unfortunate, but not agreed that they are unjust in a sense that supports the imposition of rectification on anyone else. Nor is poverty typically "undeserved" in the only real…Read more
  •  30
  •  30
    Reason and Morality in the Age of Nuclear Deterrence
    Analyse & Kritik 10 (2): 206-232. 1988.
    The argument in this paper is that althaugh rationality and morality are distinguishable concepts, there is nevertheless a rational morality, a set of principles, namely, which it is rational of all to require of all. The argument of this paper is that such a morality would certainly issue in a general condemnation of aggressive war. Correlatively, it would issue in a strong right of defense. Would this right be sufficient to include resort to nuclear deterrence, if need be? It is argued that th…Read more
  •  30
    Moral Matters - Second Edition
    Broadview Press. 1999.
    _Moral Matters_ is a concise and accessible look at such ethical issues as euthanasia, animal rights, abortion, and pornography. It provides a focused set of views from the unified perspective of one of North America’s leading libertarian thinkers, and aims to provoke thought and discussion as well as to enrich understanding. For the new edition the text has been revised throughout, the introduction has been greatly expanded, and a new chapter on environmental issues has been added.
  •  30
    Promising, Expecting, and Utility
    Canadian Journal of Philosophy 1 (2). 1971.
    In this paper, I shall be concerned to explore the utilitarian account of promising, which for some time has had, in many circles, the status of a dead horse. My aim is not to flog it, however, but to show that perhaps it yet lives. At least, I hope to show that some prominent and apparently powerful objections to this account do not find their mark. In the course of this, several subjects of wider interest will come in for review as well, and it is hoped that some further light on the utilitari…Read more
  •  29
    Minarchism
    Etica E Politica 5 (2): 1-14. 2003.
    This essay addresses the on-going controversy between supporters of minimal government, or minarchists, and supporters of no government, or anarchists. Both lay claim to the Libertarian principle, which holds that the only justification for the use of force is to deal with aggressive force initiated by someone else. Both agree that force is justified in dealing with aggressors. The only question is, who wields it, and how? The essay explains, briefly, the role of private property in all this. Pr…Read more
  •  29
    Introduction
    International Journal of Applied Philosophy 25 (2): 233-235. 2011.
  •  29
    On honouring our parents
    Southern Journal of Philosophy 25 (1): 65-78. 1987.
  •  28
    Response
    International Journal of Applied Philosophy 25 (2): 259-272. 2011.
    Gibbard accuses me of having an “extreme” view of property rights, even though he agrees that liberty is a good thing. But is it good enough to justify excluding handouts to the poor? He thinks not. I argue that the “social contract” idea of justice, which he in general shares, would underwrite the sort of strong property rights I plump for—noting that voluntary assistance to the poor (or anyone) is, after all, not only perfectly acceptable but much to be commended. I believe I agree entirely wi…Read more
  •  28
    Response to Smith
    Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 8 (2): 159-160. 1995.
  •  28
    Full Employment
    Bowling Green Studies in Applied Philosophy 6 88-103. 1984.
  •  28
    On Defense by Nuclear Deterrence
    Canadian Journal of Philosophy 16 (sup1): 195-211. 1986.
    (1986). On Defense by Nuclear Deterrence. Canadian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 16, Supplementary Volume 12: Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence and Disarmament, pp. 195-211
  •  27
    We Don’t Owe Them a Thing!
    The Monist 86 (3): 419-433. 2003.
    The discovery that people far away are in bad shape seems to generate a sense of guilt on the part of many articulate people in our part of the world, even though they are no worse off now that we’ve heard about them than they had been before. I will take it as given that we are certainly responsible for evils we inflict on others, no matter where, and that we owe those people compensation. Not all similarly agree that it is not in general our duty to make other people better off, and therefore …Read more
  •  25
    Sterba's program of philosophical reconciliation
    Journal of Social Philosophy 30 (3). 1999.
  •  25
    Democracy and Its Critics (review)
    Teaching Philosophy 13 (4): 401-404. 1990.
  •  24
    Kerrey and Calley
    International Journal of Applied Philosophy 16 (2): 153-162. 2002.
    In the Vietnam war, Lieutenant Calley, claiming to be following orders, ordered the killing of several hundred women, children, and elderly people in the village of My Lai. In 1969, Lieutenant (later Senator) Kerrey led a small group of SEALs in the dead of night on a dangerous military venture. In course, a dozen or so innocent villagers were either shot in crossfire or killed intentionally because there seemed a real chance that they would inform the enemy, endangering themselves and the missi…Read more
  •  24
    Book Review:Human Acts. Eric D'Arcy (review)
    Ethics 75 (2): 145-. 1965.
  •  23
    Reply to Ripstein
    Dialogue 29 (2): 299-. 1990.
    One reason for professing sympathy for such an unpopular view as libertarianism is that one acquires such worthy opponents. Arthur Ripstein's notice was a pleasure to read and, as I would expect, gives one plenty to think about. In this very brief reply, though, I can only identify some points on which I think he may have misstated my view, or on which I can offer a quick rebuttal.
  •  23
    Equality and Liberty (review)
    International Philosophical Quarterly 26 (2): 192-195. 1986.
  •  23
    Liberty, equality, fraternity: Harmonious or irreconcilable?
    Journal of Social Philosophy 17 (3): 20-27. 1986.
  •  23
    Charles Taylor., The Ethics of Authenticity (review)
    International Studies in Philosophy 26 (2): 147-148. 1994.
  •  22
    Tinkering and Abortion
    Dialogue 17 (1): 125-128. 1978.
    The general anti-abortionist line is that abortion is wrong because it is the killing of innocent people. The main pro-abortionist response to this has been to deny that what is killed in an abortion is, properly speaking, a person. Killing these things merely prevents another person from being added to the world, just as would contraception, except at a later stage in the total process; abortion is not, therefore, any kind of murder, any deprivation of a person's life. Kelly and Schedler now ra…Read more
  •  21
    Morals by Agreement (review)
    International Philosophical Quarterly 27 (3): 336-338. 1987.
  •  21
    Political platonism, liberalism, and democracy
    Journal of Social Philosophy 34 (1). 2003.