Three interlocking features appear to underpin Rawls's justification of political compliance within the context of political liberalism: namely, a specific territory; a specific society; and a specific conception... more abstractThree interlocking features appear to underpin Rawls's justification of political compliance within the context of political liberalism: namely, a specific territory; a specific society; and a specific conception of what it is to be reasonable. When any one feature is subject to critical ...

Political Economy, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Applied Ethics, and 6 more

Publication Date: 2006

Publication Name: Journal of Moral Philosophy

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Applied Ethics, and Political Science

Publication Date: 2009

Publication Name: Journal of Applied Philosophy

While it is widely agreed that the infliction upon innocents of needless pain is immoral, many have argued that, even though nonhuman animals act as if they feel pain, there is no reason to think that they actually su... more abstractWhile it is widely agreed that the infliction upon innocents of needless pain is immoral, many have argued that, even though nonhuman animals act as if they feel pain, there is no reason to think that they actually suffer painful experiences. And if our actions only appear to cause nonhuman animals pain, then such actions are not immoral. On the basis of the claim that certain behavioural responses to organismic harm are maladaptive, whereas the ability to feel pain is itself adaptive, this article argues that the experience of pain should be viewed as the proximate cause of such occasionally maladaptive behaviour. But as nonhuman animals also display such maladaptive traits, we have reason to conclude that they feel pain. Hence, we have reason to hold that it is indeed possible to inflict needless pain on nonhuman animals, which would be immoral.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Animal Behavior, Pain, and 3 more

Publication Date: 2005

Publication Name: Journal of Applied Philosophy

Taylor and Francis Ltd FCRI7105.sgm 10.1080/136982304000235994 Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 1369-8230 (print)/0000-0000 (online) Original Article 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd 7100000... more abstractTaylor and Francis Ltd FCRI7105.sgm 10.1080/136982304000235994 Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 1369-8230 (print)/0000-0000 (online) Original Article 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd 71000000Spring 2004 AlanCarter Dept. of Philosophy, Campus Box ...

Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Political Science

Publication Date: 2004

Publication Name: Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

There are two different ways in which an egalitarian might evaluate momentary distributions. This suggests two different egalitarian theories, with each theory focusing upon a different value. However, there may well ... more abstractThere are two different ways in which an egalitarian might evaluate momentary distributions. This suggests two different egalitarian theories, with each theory focusing upon a different value. However, there may well be reason for refusing to make a choice between these theories, and recognizing both values, instead. But this would suggest that egalitarianism may be more pluralist than has generally been presupposed.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Political Theory, and 10 more

Abstract: This article argues that the seemingly immoral implications of the Non-Identity Problem can be avoided by employing a re-conceptualisation of ‘to harm’, namely a disjunctive one. The re-conceptualisation pr... more abstractAbstract: This article argues that the seemingly immoral implications of the Non-Identity Problem can be avoided by employing a re-conceptualisation of ‘to harm’, namely a disjunctive one. The re-conceptualisation proposed retains what is of value in the standard conceptualisation while also allowing us to claim coherently that we are able to harm distant future generations by adopting certain policies, even when those policies determine the identities of people in the distant future.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, Normative Ethics, and 7 more

Abstract: The article considers two different, yet related, theoretical approaches that could be employed to ground the anarchist critique of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary practice, and thus of the state in general:... more abstractAbstract: The article considers two different, yet related, theoretical approaches that could be employed to ground the anarchist critique of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary practice, and thus of the state in general: the State-Primacy Theory and the Quadruplex Theory. The State-Primacy Theory appears to be consistent with several of Bakunin's claims about the state. However, the Quadruplex Theory might, in fact, turn out to be no less consistent with Bakunin's claims than the State-Primacy Theory. In addition, the Quadruplex Theory seems no less capable of supporting the anarchist critique of Marxism-Leninism than is the State-Primacy Theory. The article concludes by considering two possible refinements that might be made to the Quadrupex Theory.

Political Sociology, Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, and 31 more

Abstract There has been a process of moral extensionism within environmental ethics from anthropocentrism, through zoocentrism, to ecocentrism. This article maps key elements of that process, and concludes that each ... more abstractAbstract There has been a process of moral extensionism within environmental ethics from anthropocentrism, through zoocentrism, to ecocentrism. This article maps key elements of that process, and concludes that each of these ethical positions fails as a fully adequate, environmentalist ethic, and does so because of an implicit assumption that is common within normative theory. This notwithstanding, each position may well contribute a value. The problem that then arises is how to trade off those values against each other when they conflict. The solution here proposed is to employ multidimensional isovalue-contours along with a multidimensional practicability-frontier. This would result in a rich, value-pluralist environmentalist ethic that enjoined different outcomes to those enjoined by purely anthropocentric, zoocentric or ecocentric ethics.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, and 19 more

Abstract: Two paradoxes within population ethics—Derek Parfit’s famous Mere Addition Paradox and Michael Huemer’s seemingly stronger variant upon it, “the Benign Addition Proof”, which seems to derive from the work o... more abstractAbstract: Two paradoxes within population ethics—Derek Parfit’s famous Mere Addition Paradox and Michael Huemer’s seemingly stronger variant upon it, “the Benign Addition Proof”, which seems to derive from the work of Torbjörn Tännsjö—both appear to lead inexorably to the Repugnant Conclusion. In this article I show how the Mere Addition Paradox, the Benign Addition “Proof” and the Repugnant Conclusion can all be successfully avoided. In the process of so doing, I defend an indirect, multidimensional value theory that incorporates plural contributory values, each contributing diminishing marginal overall value.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, and 10 more

Abstract: The most sophisticated philosophical defence of Marx’s theory of history – G.A. Cohen’s – deploys functional explanations in a manner that accords explanatory primacy to technological development. In contra... more abstractAbstract: The most sophisticated philosophical defence of Marx’s theory of history – G.A. Cohen’s – deploys functional explanations in a manner that accords explanatory primacy to technological development. In contrast, an anarchist theory can be developed that accords explanatory primacy to the state. It is, however, possible to develop a theory of history that accords explanatory primacy neither to the development of technology nor to the state but which nevertheless possesses the explanatory power of both the Marxist and the anarchist theories. Such a theory can also provide the foundations for a radical environmentalist political theory.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, and 26 more

Three interlocking features appear to underpin Rawls's justification of political compliance within the context of political liberalism: namely, a specific territory; a specific society; and a specific conception... more abstractThree interlocking features appear to underpin Rawls's justification of political compliance within the context of political liberalism: namely, a specific territory; a specific society; and a specific conception of what it is to be reasonable. When any one feature is subject to critical ...

Political Economy, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Applied Ethics, and 6 more

Publication Date: 2006

Publication Name: Journal of Moral Philosophy

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Applied Ethics, and Political Science

Publication Date: 2009

Publication Name: Journal of Applied Philosophy

While it is widely agreed that the infliction upon innocents of needless pain is immoral, many have argued that, even though nonhuman animals act as if they feel pain, there is no reason to think that they actually su... more abstractWhile it is widely agreed that the infliction upon innocents of needless pain is immoral, many have argued that, even though nonhuman animals act as if they feel pain, there is no reason to think that they actually suffer painful experiences. And if our actions only appear to cause nonhuman animals pain, then such actions are not immoral. On the basis of the claim that certain behavioural responses to organismic harm are maladaptive, whereas the ability to feel pain is itself adaptive, this article argues that the experience of pain should be viewed as the proximate cause of such occasionally maladaptive behaviour. But as nonhuman animals also display such maladaptive traits, we have reason to conclude that they feel pain. Hence, we have reason to hold that it is indeed possible to inflict needless pain on nonhuman animals, which would be immoral.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Animal Behavior, Pain, and 3 more

Publication Date: 2005

Publication Name: Journal of Applied Philosophy

Taylor and Francis Ltd FCRI7105.sgm 10.1080/136982304000235994 Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 1369-8230 (print)/0000-0000 (online) Original Article 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd 7100000... more abstractTaylor and Francis Ltd FCRI7105.sgm 10.1080/136982304000235994 Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 1369-8230 (print)/0000-0000 (online) Original Article 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd 71000000Spring 2004 AlanCarter Dept. of Philosophy, Campus Box ...

Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Political Science

Publication Date: 2004

Publication Name: Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy

There are two different ways in which an egalitarian might evaluate momentary distributions. This suggests two different egalitarian theories, with each theory focusing upon a different value. However, there may well ... more abstractThere are two different ways in which an egalitarian might evaluate momentary distributions. This suggests two different egalitarian theories, with each theory focusing upon a different value. However, there may well be reason for refusing to make a choice between these theories, and recognizing both values, instead. But this would suggest that egalitarianism may be more pluralist than has generally been presupposed.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Political Theory, and 10 more

Abstract: This article argues that the seemingly immoral implications of the Non-Identity Problem can be avoided by employing a re-conceptualisation of ‘to harm’, namely a disjunctive one. The re-conceptualisation pr... more abstractAbstract: This article argues that the seemingly immoral implications of the Non-Identity Problem can be avoided by employing a re-conceptualisation of ‘to harm’, namely a disjunctive one. The re-conceptualisation proposed retains what is of value in the standard conceptualisation while also allowing us to claim coherently that we are able to harm distant future generations by adopting certain policies, even when those policies determine the identities of people in the distant future.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, Normative Ethics, and 7 more

Abstract: The article considers two different, yet related, theoretical approaches that could be employed to ground the anarchist critique of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary practice, and thus of the state in general:... more abstractAbstract: The article considers two different, yet related, theoretical approaches that could be employed to ground the anarchist critique of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary practice, and thus of the state in general: the State-Primacy Theory and the Quadruplex Theory. The State-Primacy Theory appears to be consistent with several of Bakunin's claims about the state. However, the Quadruplex Theory might, in fact, turn out to be no less consistent with Bakunin's claims than the State-Primacy Theory. In addition, the Quadruplex Theory seems no less capable of supporting the anarchist critique of Marxism-Leninism than is the State-Primacy Theory. The article concludes by considering two possible refinements that might be made to the Quadrupex Theory.

Political Sociology, Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, and 31 more

Abstract There has been a process of moral extensionism within environmental ethics from anthropocentrism, through zoocentrism, to ecocentrism. This article maps key elements of that process, and concludes that each ... more abstractAbstract There has been a process of moral extensionism within environmental ethics from anthropocentrism, through zoocentrism, to ecocentrism. This article maps key elements of that process, and concludes that each of these ethical positions fails as a fully adequate, environmentalist ethic, and does so because of an implicit assumption that is common within normative theory. This notwithstanding, each position may well contribute a value. The problem that then arises is how to trade off those values against each other when they conflict. The solution here proposed is to employ multidimensional isovalue-contours along with a multidimensional practicability-frontier. This would result in a rich, value-pluralist environmentalist ethic that enjoined different outcomes to those enjoined by purely anthropocentric, zoocentric or ecocentric ethics.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, and 19 more

Abstract: Two paradoxes within population ethics—Derek Parfit’s famous Mere Addition Paradox and Michael Huemer’s seemingly stronger variant upon it, “the Benign Addition Proof”, which seems to derive from the work o... more abstractAbstract: Two paradoxes within population ethics—Derek Parfit’s famous Mere Addition Paradox and Michael Huemer’s seemingly stronger variant upon it, “the Benign Addition Proof”, which seems to derive from the work of Torbjörn Tännsjö—both appear to lead inexorably to the Repugnant Conclusion. In this article I show how the Mere Addition Paradox, the Benign Addition “Proof” and the Repugnant Conclusion can all be successfully avoided. In the process of so doing, I defend an indirect, multidimensional value theory that incorporates plural contributory values, each contributing diminishing marginal overall value.

Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, and 10 more

Abstract: The most sophisticated philosophical defence of Marx’s theory of history – G.A. Cohen’s – deploys functional explanations in a manner that accords explanatory primacy to technological development. In contra... more abstractAbstract: The most sophisticated philosophical defence of Marx’s theory of history – G.A. Cohen’s – deploys functional explanations in a manner that accords explanatory primacy to technological development. In contrast, an anarchist theory can be developed that accords explanatory primacy to the state. It is, however, possible to develop a theory of history that accords explanatory primacy neither to the development of technology nor to the state but which nevertheless possesses the explanatory power of both the Marxist and the anarchist theories. Such a theory can also provide the foundations for a radical environmentalist political theory.

Political Economy, Philosophy, Applied Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Ethics, and 26 more