Rationality, rules, and utility : new essays on the moral philosophy of Richard B. Brandt

Original papers by outstanding scholars (including Nobel laureate John C. Harsanyi) critically examine and extend the most important aspects of Richard Brandts seminal work on the roles of rationality, rules, and utility in developing a coherent account of normative ethics. Brandt provides a set of valuable detailed responses to these new papers. For more than forty years, Richard Brandts work has been at the cutting edge of research into the roles played by rationality, rules, and utility in developing a coherent account of normative ethics. In this volume of original essays, outstanding scholars (including Nobel laureate John C. Harsanyi) critically examine and extend the most important aspects of his work. The value of these new contributions is enhanced by Brandts detailed responses. Scholars of ethics, and of human behavior more generally, will find this book consistently stimulating and rewarding. 1. Brandt On Rationality And Value / Stephen Nathanson -- 2. Alternatives To Brandt's Theory Of Reasons For Action / B. C. Postow -- 3. Brandt On Self-control / Philip Pettit And Michael Smith -- 4. Brandt On Autonomy / Michael Davis -- 5. Brandt's Methods Of Ethics / R. M. Hare -- 6. Moral Concepts And Justified Feelings / Allan Gibbard -- 7. The Evolution Of Utility: A Philosophical Journey / L. W. Sumner -- 8. Expectation Effects, Individual Utilities, And Rational Desires / John C. Harsanyi -- 9. The Economics Of Knowledge And Utilitarian Morality / Russell Hardin -- 10. The Problem Of Group Egoism / Gregory Kavka -- 11. Welfare, Equality, And Distribution: Brandt From The Left / William H. Shaw -- 12. Brandt's Moral Philosophy In Perspective / William K. Frankena -- 13. Comments / Richard B. Brandt. Edited By Brad Hooker. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-258). Original papers by scholars who critically examine and extend the most important aspects of Richard Brandt's seminal work on the roles of rationality, rules and utility in developing a coherent account of normative ethics.