In the Interests of Others : An Essay in Moral Philosophy

Are we morally required to act in the interests of others? Does our worth as persons depend in any way on our valuing the good of others? These questions, illustrative of those addressed in this book, concern the relevance of other-interested considerations -- of facts about what is good or bad for others -- to the moral status of persons and their actions. Pursuing answers to such questions is not only interesting and important in its own right, but also yields valuable insights in to the nature of morality. A distinguishing feature of the book is its unusually comprehensive treatment of the moral significance of other-interested considerations __per se__, of how these considerations are interrelated, and of where they should be located in more general moral theory. It will be of greatest interest to individuals with fairly well-developed philosophical interests and abilities -- to teachers and advanced students of moral philosophy in particular. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Beneficence and Moral Requirements....Pages 1-30 Beneficence and Supererogation....Pages 31-46 Anti-Maleficence....Pages 47-77 Welfare Rights....Pages 79-103 Virtue, Personal Worth, and the Interests of Others....Pages 105-136 Back Matter....Pages 137-146