Justice for Hedgehogs

The fox knows many things, the Greeks said, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. In his most comprehensive work Ronald Dworkin argues that value in all its forms is one big thing: that what truth is, life means, morality requires, and justice demands are different aspects of the same large question. He develops original theories on a great variety of issues very rarely considered in the same book: moral skepticism, literary, artistic, and historical interpretation, free will, ancient moral theory, being good and living well, liberty, equality, and law among many other topics. What we think about any one of these must stand up, eventually, to any argument we find compelling about the rest. Skepticism in all its forms—philosophical, cynical, or post-modern—threatens that unity. The Galilean revolution once made the theological world of value safe for science. But the new republic gradually became a new empire: the modern philosophers inflated the methods of physics into a totalitarian theory of everything. They invaded and occupied all the honorifics—reality, truth, fact, ground, meaning, knowledge, and being—and dictated the terms on which other bodies of thought might aspire to them, and skepticism has been the inevitable result. We need a new revolution. We must make the world of science safe for value. (20110301) The Fox Knows Many Things, The Greeks Said, But The Hedgehog Knows One Big Thing. In His Most Comprehensive Work The Author Argues That Value In All Its Forms Is One Big Thing: That What Truth Is, Life Means, Morality Requires, And Justice Demands Are Different Aspects Of The Same Large Question. He Develops Original Theories On A Great Variety Of Issues Very Rarely Considered In The Same Book: Moral Skepticism, Literary, Artistic, And Historical Interpretation, Free Will, Ancient Moral Theory, Being Good And Living Well, Liberty, Equality, And Law, Among Many Other Topics. What We Think About Any One Of These Must Stand Up, Eventually, To Any Argument We Find Compelling About The Rest. Skepticism In All Its Forms, Philosophical, Cynical, Or Post-modern, Threatens That Unity. The Galilean Revolution Once Made The Theological World Of Value Safe For Science. But The New Republic Gradually Became A New Empire: The Modern Philosophers Inflated The Methods Of Physics Into A Totalitarian Theory Of Everything. They Invaded And Occupied All The Honorifics, Reality, Truth, Fact, Ground, Meaning, Knowledge, And Being, And Dictated The Terms On Which Other Bodies Of Thought Might Aspire To Them, And Skepticism Has Been The Inevitable Result. The Author Feels We Need A New Revolution, And That We Must Make The World Of Science Safe For Value. Baedeker -- Independence. Truth In Morals -- External Skepticism -- Morals And Causes -- Internal Skepticism -- Interpretation. Moral Responsibility -- Interpretation In General -- Conceptual Interpretation -- Ethics. Dignity -- Free Will And Responsibility -- Morality. From Dignity To Morality -- Aid -- Harm -- Obligations -- Politics. Political Rights And Concepts -- Equality -- Liberty -- Democracy -- Law -- Epilogue: Dignity Indivisible. Ronald Dworkin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The fox knows many things, the Greeks said, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. In his most comprehensive work Ronald Dworkin argues that value in all its forms is one big thing: that what truth is, life means, morality requires, and justice demands are different aspects of the same large question. He develops original theories on a great variety of issues very rarely considered in the same book: moral skepticism, literary, artistic, and historical interpretation, free will, ancient moral theory, being good and living well, liberty, equality, and law among many other topics. What we think about any one of these must stand up, eventually, to any argument we find compelling about the rest. Skepticism in all its forms - philosophical, cynical, or post-modern - threatens that unity. The Galilean revolution once made the theological world of value safe for science. But the new republic gradually became a new empire: the modern philosophers inflated the methods of physics into a totalitarian theory of everything. They invaded and occupied all the honorifics - reality, truth, fact, ground, meaning, knowledge, and being - and dictated the terms on which other bodies of thought might aspire to them, and skepticism has been the inevitable result. We need a new revolution. We must make the world of science safe for value "In Dworkin's master work, the central thesis is that all areas of value depend on one another. This is one, big thing that the hedgehog knows, in contrast to the fox, who knows many little things. Dworkin's understanding of the relationship--between ethics, morality, and political morality--is significantly revised and also greatly elaborated. He argues that "dignity" is the essential core of living well and that a satisfactory account of dignity would, in turn, point to two principles. The first states that it is objectively important that each person's life go well; and the second that each person has a special responsibility for identifying what counts as success in his or her own life. Dworkin believes that values cohere and that in order to defend that coherence he has to take up a broad variety of philosophical issues that are not normally treated in one book. He discusses the metaphysics of value, the character of truth, the nature of interpretation, the conditions of agreement and disagreement, the phenomenon of moral responsibility and the problem of free will as well as more substantive issues of ethical, moral and legal theory."--Provided by publisher From the book : "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. Value is one big thing. The truth about living well and being good and what is wonderful is not only coherent but mutually supporting : what we think about any one of these must stand up, eventually, to any argument we find compelling about the rest."--Jacket The fox knows many things, the Greeks said, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. In this title, the author argues that value in all its forms is one big thing: that what truth is, life means, morality requires, and justice demands are different aspects of the same large question.