The Moral Foundation of Rights (Clarendon Paperbacks) - Softcover

Sumner, L. W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198248741 ISBN 13: 9780198248743

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1989

Synopsis

While rights are indispensable to our moral and political thinking, they are also mysterious and controversial. What is a moral right? What kinds of creatures are capable of having rights? Which rights do they have? As long as these questions remain unanswered, rights will remain vulnerable to sceptical doubts. This study aims to provide the moral foundation necessary to dispel these doubts. The author constructs a coherent concept of a moral right and a workable substantive theory of rights. The former arises from the author's analysis of moral rights as morally justified conventional rights, while the necessary framework for this is supplied by a consequentialist moral theory.

About this title

Review

'an exceedingly careful, detailed analysis of the set of concepts associated with rights. It is masterly, indeed virtuoso exposition ... amply rewarding... Sumner has done an impressive job of mapping out the terrain in the area of rights, and the subject will profit from his work.'The University of Toronto Quarterly

'original, interesting and closely argued book.' Times Literary Supplement

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198248741
• ISBN 13: 9780198248743
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 236