Getting What You Want: A Critique of Liberal Morality (Ideas (Routledge (Firm)).)

Getting What You Want? is the first book which calls for the collapse of liberal morality. Bob Brecher claims that it is wrong to think that morality is simply rooted in what people want. He explains that in our consumerist society, we make the assumption that getting 'what people want' is our natural goal, and that this 'natural goal' is a necessarily good one. We see that whether it is a matter of pornography or getting married - if people want it, then that's that. But is this really a good thing? Getting What You Want? offers a critique of liberal morality and an analysis of its understanding of the individual as a 'wanting thing'. Brecher boldly argues that the Anglo-American liberalism cannot give an adequate account of moral reasoning and action, nor any justification of moral principles or demands. Ultimately, Brecher shows us that the whole idea of liberal morality is not only incoherent but unattainable. Getting What You Want? is the first book which calls for the collapse of liberal morality. Bob Brecher claims that it is wrong to think that morality is simply rooted in what people want. He explains that in our consumerist society, we make the assumption that getting 'what people want' is our natural goal, and that this 'natural goal' is a necessarily good one. We see that whether it is a matter of pornography or getting married - if people want it, then that's that. But is this really a good thing? Getting What You Want? offers a critique of liberal morality and an analysis of its understanding of the individual as a 'wanting thing'. Brecher boldly argues that the Anglo-American liberalism cannot give an adequate account of moral reasoning and action, nor any justification of moral principles or demands. Ultimately, Brecher shows us that the whole idea of liberal morality is not only incoherent but unattainable. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 THE MAKINGS OF LIBERAL MORALITY......Page 26 THE EMPIRICO-LIBERAL TRADITION......Page 43 A WANTING THING......Page 64 WANTS AND REASONS......Page 95 THE PROBLEM OF MOTIVATION......Page 121 THE ARGUMENT REVIEWED......Page 149 GETTING WHAT YOU WANT?......Page 158 Notes......Page 184 Bibliographical essay......Page 213 Index......Page 224 Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 10 INTRODUCTION 12 THE MAKINGS OF LIBERAL MORALITY 26 THE EMPIRICO-LIBERAL TRADITION 43 A WANTING THING 64 WANTS AND REASONS 95 THE PROBLEM OF MOTIVATION 121 THE ARGUMENT REVIEWED 149 GETTING WHAT YOU WANT? 158 Notes 184 Bibliographical essay 213 Index 224 Humanities Bob Brecher. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 173-212) And Index.