The dimensions of consequentialism : ethics, equality, and risk / Martin Peterson.

"Consequentialism, one of the major theories of normative ethics, maintains that the moral rightness of an act is determined solely by the act's consequences. The traditional form of consequentialism is one-dimensional, in that the rightness of an act is a function of a single moral aspect, such as the sum total of wellbeing it produces. In this book Martin Peterson introduces a new type of consequentialist theory: multidimensional consequentialism. According to this theory, an act's moral rightness depends on several separate dimensions, including individual wellbeing, equality and risk. Peterson's novel approach shows that moral views about equality and risk that were previously thought to be mutually incompatible can be rendered compatible, and his precise theoretical discussion helps the reader to understand better the distinction between consequentialist and non-consequentialist theories. His book will interest a wide range of readers in ethics"-- Provided by publisher

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

Preface; Chapter 1 Introduction; 1.1 One-dimensional vs. multi-dimensional consequentialism; 1.2 Three key claims; 1.3 Aim and limitations; 1.4 Outlook and preview; Chapter 2 Degrees of rightness; 2.1 What is wrong with the standard view?; 2.2 The case for 'degree'; 2.3 'degree' and vagueness; 2.4 Supererogation and strength; 2.5 Other non-binary accounts of rightness; Chapter 3: First dimension: persons; 3.1 Are persons mere containers for wellbeing?; 3.2 State- versus consequence-based theories; 3.3 Aggregative two-dimensional prioritarianism.

3.4 Non-aggregative two-dimensional prioritarianism3.5 Impartiality; 3.6 Three examples; 3.6.1 Donations to the poor; 3.6.2 Mill' s harm principle; 3.6.3 The Pigou-Dalton condition; Chapter 4 Second dimension: equality; 4.1 The mixed view; 4.2 Overview of the Literature; 4.3 The aggregative account; 4.4 The non-aggregative account; 4.5 Moral rightness comes in degrees; 4.6 An example: equality and pandemic influenza; Chapter 5 Third dimension: risk; 5.1 Actual and expected consequences; 5.2 The multi-dimensional analysis of risk; 5.3 Should we maximise expected wellbeing?

Chapter 6 Multi-dimensional decision making6.1 Why it is rational to randomise; 6.2 Lessons from decision theory; 6.3 Rationality and incomparability; 6.4 The money-pump argument; Chapter 7 The best one-dimensional theory; 7.1 Utilitarianism, prioritarianism and egalitarianism; 7.2 Composite one-dimensional theories; 7.3 Axiomatic analysis; 7.4 The case against one-dimensional consequentialism; Chapter 8 The limits of consequentialism; 8.1 Four interpretations; 8.2 The strong and general interpretation; 8.3 The need for a cardinal ranking; 8.4 Subjective rightness; 8.5 Objective rightness.

8.6 Is consequentialism vacuous?Appendix Multi-dimensional deontic logic; A.1 Standard deontic logic; A.2 Generalising SDL; A.3 The logic of multi-dimensional consequentialism; A.4 Moral dilemmas; References; Index.

English.

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