Patterns of Moral Complexity - Softcover

Larmore, Charles E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521338913 ISBN 13: 9780521338912

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1987

Synopsis

Larmore aims to recover three forms of moral complexity that have often been neglected by moral and political philosophers. First, he argues that virtue is not simply the conscientious adherence to principle. Rather, the exercise of virtue apply. He argues - and this is the second pattern of complexity - that recognizing the value of constitutive ties with shared forms of life does not undermine the liberal ideal of political neutrality toward differing ideals of the good life. Finally Larmore agrues for what he calls the heterogeneity of morality. Moral thinking need not be exclusively deontological or consequentialist, and we should recognize that the ultimate sources of moral value are diverse. The arguments presented here do not attack the possibility of moral theory. But in addressing some of the central issues of moral and political thinking today thay attempt to restore to that thinking greater flexibility and a necessary sensitivity to our common experience.

About this title

Review

"....a solid piece of work--clearly written, admirably free of cant, historically informed, and analytically ambitious. It is a fine contribution to moral theory." Bart Schultz, Ethics January 1989

Book Description

Larmore aims to recover three fundamental and pervasive forms of moral complexity that have too often been neglected by moral and political philosophers. In addressing some of the central issues of moral and political thinking today, Larmore attempts to restore to that thinking greater flexibility and a necessary sensitivity to our common experience.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0521338913
• ISBN 13: 9780521338912
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 212