A diverse collection of essays, which reflect the breadth of Judith Jarvis Thomson's philosophical work. The diversity of topics discussed in this book reflects the breadth of Judith Jarvis Thomson's philosophical work. Throughout her long career at MIT, Thomson's straightforward approach and emphasis on problem-solving have shaped philosophy in significant ways. Some of the book's contributions discuss specific moral and political issues such as abortion, self-defense, the rights and obligations of prospective fathers, and political campaign finance. Other contributions concern the foundations of moral theory, focusing on hedonism, virtue ethics, the nature of nonconsequentialism, and the objectivity of moral claims. Finally, contributions in metaphysics and epistemology discuss the existence of sets, the structures reflected in conditional statements, and the commitments of testimony. Contributors Jonathan Bennett, Richard L. Cartwright, Joshua Cohen, N. Ann Davis, Catherine Z. Elgin, Gilbert Harman, Barbara Herman, Frances Myrna Kamm, Claudia Mills, T.M. Scanlon, Ernest Sosa
Judith Jarvis Thomson's Normativity is a study of normative thought. She brings out that normative thought is not restricted to moral thought. Normative judgments divide into two sub-kinds, the evaluative and the directive; but the sub-kinds are larger than is commonly appreciated. Evaluative judgments include the judgments that such and such is a good umbrella, that Alfred is a witty comedian, and that Bert answered Carol's question correctly, as well as the judgment that David is a good human being. Directive judgments include the judgment that a toaster should toast evenly, that Edward ought to get a haircut, and that Frances must move her rook, as well as the judgment that George ought to be kind to his little brother. Thomson describes how judgments of these two sub-kinds interconnect and what makes them true when they are true. Given the extensiveness of the two sub-kinds of normative judgment, our everyday thinking is rich in normativity, and moreover, there is no gap between normative and factual thought. The widespread suspicion of the normative is therefore in large measure due to nothing deeper than an excessively narrow conception of what counts as a normative judgment.
Thomson provides a systematic theory of human and social rights, elucidating what in general makes an attribution of a right true. This is a major effort to provide a stable foundation for the deeply held belief that we are not mere cogs in a communal machine, but are instead individuals whose private interests are entitled to respect.
Moral theory should be simple: the moral theorist attends to ordinary human action to explain what makes some acts right and others wrong, and we need no microscope to observe a human act. Yet no moral theory that is simple captures all of the morally relevant facts. In a set of vivid examples, stories, and cases Judith Thomson shows just how wide an array of moral considerations bears on all but the simplest of problems. She is a philosophical analyst of the highest caliber who can tease a multitude of implications out of the story of a mere bit of eavesdropping. She is also a master teller of tales which have a philosophical bite. Beyond these pleasures, however, she brings new depth of understanding to some of the most pressing moral issues of the moment, notably abortion. Thomson's essays determinedly confront the most difficult questions: What is it to have a moral right to life, or any other right? What is the relation between the infringement of such rights and restitution? How is rights theory to deal with the imposition of risk?
How should we live? What do we owe to other people? In Goodness and Advice, the eminent philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson explores how we should go about answering such fundamental questions. In doing so, she makes major advances in moral philosophy, pointing to some deep problems for influential moral theories and describing the structure of a new and much more promising theory. Thomson begins by lamenting the prevalence of the idea that there is an unbridgeable gap between fact and value--that to say something is good, for example, is not to state a fact, but to do something more like expressing an attitude or feeling. She sets out to challenge this view, first by assessing the apparently powerful claims of Consequentialism. Thomson makes the striking argument that this familiar theory must ultimately fail because its basic requirement--that people should act to bring about the "most good"--is meaningless. It rests on an incoherent conception of goodness, and supplies, not mistaken advice, but no advice at all. Thomson then outlines the theory that she thinks we should opt for instead. This theory says that no acts are, simply, good: an act can at most be good in one or another way--as, for example, good for Smith or for Jones. What we ought to do is, most importantly, to avoid injustice; and whether an act is unjust is a function both of the rights of those affected, including the agent, and of how good or bad the act is for them. The book, which originated in the Tanner lectures that Thomson delivered at Princeton University's Center for Human Values in 1999, includes two chapters by Thomson ("Goodness" and "Advice"), provocative comments by four prominent scholars--Martha Nussbaum, Jerome Schneewind, Philip Fisher, and Barbara Herrnstein Smith--and replies by Thomson to those comments.
A rigorous treatment of a thought experiment that has become notorious within and outside of philosophy - The Trolley Problem - by one of the most influential moral philosophers alive today Suppose you can stop a trolley from killing five people, but only by turning it onto a side track where it will kill one. May you turn the trolley? What if the only way to rescue the five is to topple a bystander in front of the trolley so that his body stops it but he dies? May you use a device to stop the trolley that will kill a bystander as a side effect? The "Trolley Problem" challenges us to explain and justify our different intuitive judgments about these and related cases and has spawned a huge literature. F.M. Kamm's 2013 Tanner Lectures present some of her views on this notorious moral conundrum. After providing a brief history of changing views of what the problem is about and attempts to solve it, she focuses on two prominent issues: Does who turns the trolley and how the harm is shifted affect the moral permissibility of acting? The answers to these questions lead to general proposals about when we may and may not harm some to help others. Three distinguished philosophers - Judith Jarvis Thomson (one of the originators of the trolley problem), Thomas Hurka, and Shelly Kagan - then comment on Kamm's proposals. She responds to each comment at length, providing an exceptionally rich elaboration and defense of her views. The Trolley Problem Mysteries is an invaluable resource not only to philosophers concerned about the Trolley Problem, but to anyone worried about how we ought to act when we can lessen harm to some by harming others and how we can reach a decision about the question.
Ein unscheinbarer Aufsatz mit dem Titel "The Trolley Problem" aus dem Jahr 1985 beschäftigt uns bis heute: Angenommen, ein Mensch muss sich entscheiden, ob er eine Straßenbahn ("Trolley") geradeaus fahren lässt, so dass sie fünf Gleisarbeiter tötet, oder ob er sie auf einen anderen Arbeiter umlenkt. Welche Entscheidung wäre zulässig, und weshalb? Die Frage deutet auf ethische Grundprobleme hin, die im Zeitalter der Maschinenethik – etwa beim autonomen Fahren – ganz neue Aktualität gewinnen. Auch wenn in Zeiten einer Pandemie medizinische Ressourcen knapp werden und nicht mehr alle Patienten behandelt werden können oder wenn Terroristen Passagierflugzeuge entführen und ein Abschuss möglich wäre, drängen sich diese Probleme auf. Die Reihe "Great Papers Philosophie" bietet bahnbrechende Aufsätze der Philosophie: - Eine zeichengenaue, zitierfähige Wiedergabe des Textes (links das fremdsprachige Original, rechts eine neue Übersetzung). - Eine philosophiegeschichtliche Einordnung: Wie dachte man früher über das Problem? Welche Veränderung bewirkte der Aufsatz? Wie denkt man heute darüber? - Eine Analyse des Textes bzw. eine Rekonstruktion seiner Argumentationsstruktur, gefolgt von einem Abschnitt über die Autorin / den Autor sowie ein kommentiertes Literaturverzeichnis.
Giles knew Monmouth to be a fine commander, for he had served under the Duke when they had fought against the Covenanters at Bothwell Brig, but Giles also knew that Monmouth was no match for the wily Shaftesbury. Philip Devalle, the younger son of an earl, is left penniless when his family estate, High Heatherton, is inherited by his older brother who is declared insane and locked away in Bedlam. When Philip leaves the French army and returns to England he has only one aim – to acquire High Heatherton for himself. Lord Shaftesbury, an old associate of Devalle’s and a prolific schemer, promises to use his influence with the courts to help him get High Heatherton back. But Shaftesbury’s help comes at a hefty price. He wants Philip to lead a daring plot – a plot to place King Charles’ illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, who Shaftesbury can easily manipulate, on the throne. Philip has enemies in England, enemies who would be only too pleased to see him fail, but he knows to tread carefully if he is to avoid being tried for treason. All too soon Philip fears that he has got himself in too deep and has set in motion a plan that he is unable to stop. It’s a dangerous game that Philip is forced to play, one which could cost him everything, including his life... Full of intrigue and inspired by authors such as Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow, High Heatherton will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, as well as fans of Judith’s previous novels Designs of a Gentleman: The Early Years and Designs of a Gentleman: The Darker Years.
“So the question is, my friend, should I hazard everything upon the turn of this one card? My estate, my friendship with King Louis, my freedom and perhaps my life!” England is once more a divided nation... It is 1688 and James ll is on the throne of England. But James is not popular – and he is a Catholic. The situation is dangerously volatile. Although Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion has failed, with bloody consequences, there are still many who desire to replace James with a Protestant monarch. Among these are Philip Devalle, who has been James’ open enemy in the past, and Philip’s brother-in-law. Giles Fairfield, who fought in Monmouth’s doomed uprising. Neither will prosper in a country ruled by King James. However, there is an alternative. For Philip, virtually a prisoner on his estate, and Giles, an exile from his native land, it would mean taking great risks. Failure would be disastrous for them both…but success could bring great rewards! The Orange Autumn is an inspired retelling of a particularly turbulent period of English history. A tale of political unrest, intrigue, scandal and plots, it will equally appeal to those with an interest in the era, as well as those looking to expand upon their own historical knowledge.
The next enthralling standalone novel, based on true events, from Judith Thomson’s Philip Devalle series 1689. England is about to be plunged into a war with France. To say this does not suit half-French Philip Devalle would be an understatement. With King William III now ruling England, Philip, whose efforts during the ‘Glorious Revolution’ have helped put William there, is secure - for the moment. But his scheming has made him unpopular with many. William and Mary have no children, and with Mary’s sister, Anne, heir to the throne, Philip fears his future may yet be uncertain. When he receives an invitation to meet with King Louis, the French King he has served in the past, Philip is intrigued. A gambler at heart, he risks the consequences and travels to Versailles, in the hope that it might be to his advantage. He believes he has no enemies in France. He is wrong. Now with his life in peril, Philip must learn who wants him dead - and seek retribution. For this adventure to end well, no-one can be above suspicion... not even Louis himself. A fantastic addition to the engaging and educational Philip Devalle series, this standalone novel will appeal to those fascinated by history’s political intrigues and larger-than-life characters, as well as those who enjoy a deft plot based on true events, where murder and scandal is rife and where players hide their motives in shadows.
Presenting the prequels to the well-received Philip Devalle series, Designs of a Gentleman: The Early Years and The Darker Years introduce the adventurous character we know and love right back at the beginning! The Darker Years - Tensions are running high in King Charles II’s court when Philip Devalle returns to England after spending four years in France. He finds the devious Earl of Shaftesbury attempting to seize power by plotting to make the Duke of Monmouth, Charles’ illegitimate son, the heir to the throne in place of his Catholic uncle, James. He enlists Philip’s help in the enterprise but as he gets drawn deeper into the web of intrigue, Philip finds his very life is in jeopardy. He has never run from danger but as he grows more and more involved in what has become known as the Popish Plot he begins to question whether the cause for which he fights is truly worthy of his talents or his honour – or his life.
Presenting the prequels to the well-received Philip Devalle series, Designs of a Gentleman: The Early Years and The Darker Years introduce the adventurous character we know and love right back at the beginning! The Early Years - 1662, and Charles 11 has been King for two years. Restoration England is an exciting place of opportunity for an ambitious man and Philip Devalle, the young son of an earl, comes to London determined to make a name for himself. In an age when there is the Plague, the Fire of London and a war against the Dutch there is also religious intolerance - and scheming politicians. In the adventurous years ahead of him Philip will come to discover that there is a sinister side to Court, and will need to be constantly on his guard if he is to survive not only as a soldier in the French army but also as a courtier in England, at the Court of Whitehall, and at the Court of Versailles, ruled over by Louis XlV, the Sun King.
This book is an outgrowth of classes given at the University of California, Santa Barbara, mainly for students who had little mathematical background. Many of the students indicated they never understood what mathematics was all about (beyond what they learned in algebra and geometry). Was there any more math-ematics to be discovered or created? How could one actually discover or create new mathematics? In order to give these students some sort of answers to such questions, we designed a course in which the students could actually participate in the discovery of mathematics.
Do moral questions have objective answers? In this great debate, Gilbert Harman explains and argues for relativism, emotivism, and moral scepticism. In his view, moral disagreements are like disagreements about what to pay for a house; there are no correct answers ahead of time, except in relation to one or another moral framework. Independently, Judith Jarvis Thomson examines what she takes to be the case against moral objectivity, and rejects it; she argues that it is possible to find out the correct answers to some moral questions. In her view, some moral disagreements are like disagreements about whether the house has a ghost. Harman and Thomson then reply to each other. This important, lively accessible exchange will be invaluable to all students of moral theory and meta-ethics.
The second part of Designs of a Gentleman, this novel continues the story of Philip Devalle and an embroiling tale of scheming courtiers and deadly plotting in the court of King Charles II.
Thomson Time provides a rare look at a culture, a first-hand account of the lives of Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land in the 1930s, a time of rapid change.
This book provides an introductory chapter containing background material as well as a mini-overview of much of the course, making the book accessible to readers with varied backgrounds. It uses a wealth of examples to introduce topics and to illustrate important concepts.KEY TOPICS:Explains the ideas behind developments and proofs -- showing that proofs come not from "magical methods" but from natural processes. Introduces concepts in stages, and features applications of abstract theorems to concrete settings -- showing the power of an abstract approach in problem solving.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.