Facts, Values, and Morality

Richard Brandt is one of the most influential moral philosophers of the second half of the twentieth century. He is especially important in the field of ethics for his lucid and systematic exposition of utilitarianism. This new book represents in some ways a summation of his views and includes many useful applications of his theory. The focus of the book is how value judgments and moral belief can be justified. More generally, the book assesses different moral systems and theories of justice, and considers specific problems such as the optimal level of charity and the moral tenability of the criminal law. This book will be essential reading for all professional philosophers concerned with ethics, and will prove helpful to students as well.

• Brandt is one of the best-known utilitarian philosophers • A systematic account of his views on value judgments and moral beliefs suitable for students and teachers of philosophy

1. Introduction; 2. What is good in itself and the theory of motivation; 3. The varieties of norms for behavior; 4. The justification of moral statements; 5. Optimal social moralities; 6. Neonaturalism; 7. Utilitarianism and distributive justice; 8. Ethically required charitable giving?; 9. Conscience-utilitarianism and the criminal law; 10. Is being moral rational?