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Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice Martijn Boot

Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice By Martijn Boot

Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice by Martijn Boot


Summary

This highly original book sheds new light on aspects of incommensurability of values and its implications for ethics and justice. It provides original and innovative analysis of the characteristics of incommensurability in relation to values, and explores the implications of incommensurability for ethics, justice and public decision-making.

Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice Summary

Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice by Martijn Boot

If values conflict and rival human interests clash we often have to weigh them against each other. However, under particular conditions incommensurability prevents the assignment of determinable and impartial weights. In those cases an objective balance does not exist. The original thesis of this book sheds new light on aspects of incommensurability and its implications for public decision-making, ethics and justice. Martijn Boot analyzes a number of previously ignored or unrecognized concepts, such as 'incomplete comparability', 'incompletely justified choice', 'indeterminateness' and 'ethical deficit' - concepts that are essential for comprehending problems of incommensurability. Apart from problematic implications, incommensurability has also favourable consequences. It creates room for autonomous rational choices that are not dictated by reason. Besides, insight into incommensurability promotes recognition of different possible rankings of universally valid but sometimes conflicting human values. This book avoids unnecessary technical language and is accessible not only for specialists but for a large audience of philosophers, ethicists, political theorists, economists, lawyers and interested persons without specialized knowledge.

Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice Reviews

This book is a rigorous treatment of a major question: Can there be rational decisions between options having incommensurable values? Challenging the view that incommensurability does not preclude rational choice, Boot details obstacles to choices between incommensurables and indicates how practical reasoning should accommodate them. In doing this he says much of value about justice, healthcare, punishment, and other major topics. -- Robert Audi, John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame
It is hard to think of a more important practical question than whether there are irresoluble conflicts between values. Philosophers in recent years have made major advances in clarifying that question and developing answers to it, but their work is often technical. Martijn Boot is technically adept, but in this highly significant book makes his arguments in clear and engaging prose. He brings out the implications of incommensurability in various areas, as well as taking the debate forward on several fronts. -- Roger Crisp, Professor of Moral Philosophy, St Anne's College, Oxford

About Martijn Boot

Martijn Boot is an Assistant Professor at University College Groningen, the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Table of Contents

Introduction / Part I: Incommensurability and Its Implications for Practical Reasoning / 1. Incommensurability and Incomplete Comparability / 2. Spurious Challenges / 3. Real Challenges: Imprecise Equality and Parity versus Incomplete Comparability / 4. Implications of Incomplete Comparability for Practical Reasoning and Rational Justification of the Choice / Part II: Implications of Imcommensurability for Public Decision-Making, Ethics and Justice / 5. Conflicts of Justice / 6. Rival Theories of Justice / 7. Implications of Incommensurability for John Rawls's Theory of Justice / 8. Do We Need a Theory of Justice? A Reply to Amartya Sen / 9. Equity and Efficiency in Health Care / 10. Legitimacy versus Integrity / 11. Partial Justice / 12. Autonomy and Recognition / Glossary

Additional information

NLS9781786602282
9781786602282
1786602288
Incommensurability and its Implications for Practical Reasoning, Ethics and Justice by Martijn Boot
New
Paperback
Rowman & Littlefield International
2018-11-02
248
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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