After the Terror

Looks at the moral issues around terrorism. Deals with questions like: what is to count as a 'good life'? Why is terrorism morally wrong? To what extent are Western countries materially and morally responsible for the terrorism they experience? Under what conditions is terrorism morally justified? What kind of opposition to one's own state is morally justified? Honderich is a consequentialist: his "principle of humanity" is that we should attempt to drag people out of "bad lives". Contents 5 Acknowledgements 7 1 Good lives, bad lives 9 Living longer 9 Other great goods 12 Half-lives and under-fives 14 Necessary inquiry 15 Less than half-lives, and a reason 20 Reassuring ourselves 22 Quarter-lives 24 Larger numbers 26 Great goods again 28 More reassurance? 30 Not an omission 32 2 Natural and other morality 38 Natural morality 38 More to natural morality, and its inescapability 42 Worked-out moralities 45 Libertarianism 48 Liberalism 54 The principle of humanity 59 3 Did we wrong them? Do we wrong them? 66 Political realism 66 A morality of relationship 69 A general distinction, and a mystery 71 Libertarianism, liberalism, humanity again 77 Acts and omissions 81 Causes and conditions 84 Good intentions 86 Another hope, and a conclusion or two 89 4 The twin towers, and democracy 97 Oneness in extremity 97 Definitions of violence 99 Terrorism defined 105 Why some say September 11 was wrong 108 Democracy 113 Hierarchic democracy 118 Why September 11 was wrong 123 5 Our responsibility, and what to do 129 Moral confidence 129 Our share in September 11 132 Capitalism 137 Our counter-attack 148 What is to be done 155 Index 163 Enquires Into The 'natural Fact' Of Morality And The Worked-out Moralities Of Philosophers. It Reaches To The Moral Core Of Our Lives, And Asks Why The Events Of September 11th Were Wrong And What Terrorism Tells Us About Ourselves And Out Obligations. Ted Honderich Does Not Respect The Moral Confidence Of Our Leaders And Others, And Defends A Morality Of Humanity That Requires Us To Think About Our Lives, And To Act Up Against Our Democratic Governments. [back Cover]. Good Lives, Bad Lives -- Natural And Other Morality -- Did We Wrong Them? Do We Wrong Them? -- The Twin Towers And Democracy -- Our Responsibility, And What To Do. Ted Honderich. Includes Index. Includes Index.