Oderberg is professor of philosophy at the university of reading, uk. Natural moral law in contemporary society washington, dc. Essays on the philosophy of fred sommers by david oderberg. Professor david oderberg university of reading show access keys. Presenting a sustained critique of moral theory from kant onwards, williams reorients ethical theory towards truth. My chief interest is metaphysics, but i also have a major interest in moral philosophy.
Oderberg, professor of philosophy at the university of reading, uk. Oderberg writes clearly and with precision in a way that is. Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of conduct from a particular philosophy, religion or culture, or it can derive from a standard that a person. Be forwarned, oderberg s book is the antithesis of political correctness. Critical essays on consequentialist bioethics 1997, and editor of form and matter.
Oxford professor and head of department of philosophy. The metaphysics of good and evil is the first, fulllength contemporary defence, from the perspective of analytic philosophy, of the scholastic theory of good and evil the theory of aristotle, augustine, aquinas, and most medieval and thomistic philosophers. The central concepts, principles and distinctions of traditional morality are explained and defended. Oderberg writes clearly and with precision in a way that is neither patronising, popularist, or difficult. An introduction to animal ethical theory and the moral. Oderberg writes clearly and with precision in a way that is neither patronising, popularist, or. Oxford university press on behalf of the mind association.
The routledge handbook of contemporary philosophy of religion london. Criticisms by writers who are sympathetic to classical metaphysics include martin, christopher, the factvalue distinction, in oderberg, david s. Yet along with such an uncontroversial principle comes a major question. Georgetown university press see also oderberg, moral theory, ch. A graduate of the universities of melbourne and oxford, he is author of the metaphysics of identity over time 1993. He is professor of philosophy at the university of reading. Rather than beginning with an abstract conception of duty, or of motivation, or of value, or of character, it takes the objective and concrete nature of things, of human beings in particular, as the explanatory starting point of ethical enquiry. Human values brings together an international group of moral philosophers who in various respects share the aims and ideals of natural law ethics. University of reading, he has published a good deal in. Oderberg, timothy chappell in recent decades, the revival of natural law theory in modern moral philosophy has been an exciting and important development.
A nonconsequentialist approach 2000, applied ethics. The ethics of cooperation in wrongdoing cambridge core. The moral value of an act arises from something internalto the act itself kant. Oderberg s discussion of the issues is rich and thought provoking. A nonconsequentialist approach 2000 and real essentialism 2007. Timothy chappell and david oderberg palgrave macmillan, 2004, pp. Oderberg is professor of philosophy at the university of reading.
Natural law jurisprudence, legal theory 9 2003, pp. Michael gove, the times, september 26, 2001 it is a robust and uncompromising defence of. Another of these exciting new philosophers is daniel oderberg. It is suggested that the alternative value theory offered, and the concomitant explanation of moral dvelop mem, are both truer to our experience of moral action and moral. Be forwarned, oderbergs book is the antithesis of political correctness. Even oderberg admits that these cases are brutally tough. According to devil j in gamble, if a man sells a gun to another which he. Oderberg writes clearly and with precision in a way that is neither. A nonconsequentialist approach sets out the basic system used to solve moral problems, the system that consequentialists deride as. Oderberg is professor of philosophy at the university of reading, england. Moral theory sets out the basic system used to solve moral problems, the system that consequentialists deride as traditional morality. The caroline chisholm library is taking bookings for its upcoming seminar opting out. Oderberg is lecturer in philosophy at the university of reading. Apr 14, 2000 the best accessible guide to just war theory, and the whole aquinas approach to philosophy, is applied ethics by david s.
The structure and content of the good springerlink. The moral life is not about maximizing consequences. He has published over thirty academic papers and has authored four books, real essentialism, applied ethics, moral theory, and the metaphysics of identity over time. Oderberg applies traditional aristotelianthomist moral theory to a number of controversial moral issues, reaching conclusions in each case likely to give fits to anyone enamored of contemporary moral attitudes. The ethics of cooperation in wrongdoing volume 54 david s. The work is, even for nonbelievers, an important and engaging statement of nonconsequentialist moral theory kaspar lippertrasmussen, the philosophical quarterly, vol. Oderberg begins his defence of the principle of double effect with the observation that consequentialism in its purest form requires more than this simple balancing of good and bad effects. David oderbergs moral theory defends inviolable rights, the principle of dou ble effect, a significant distinction between acts and omissions, and the sanctity of human life. The metaphysics of good and evil 1st edition david s. Oderberg skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. I have given a number of fairly abstract reasons why consequentialism is on the face of it unintuitive and unmotivated. A nonconsequentialist approach blackwell, 2000, applied ethics. Lawrence kohlbergs stages of moral development lawrence kohlbergs theory of moral development is an adaptation of the developmental theory of jean piaget.
The best accessible guide to just war theory, and the whole aquinas approach to philosophy, is applied ethics by david s. Broadly speaking, oderberg places himself in opposition to peter singer and other utilitarian or consequentialist thinkers. A nonconsequentialist approach, and numerous articles in metaphysics, philosophical logic, and related subjects. According to the theory, moral reasoning develops in six stages, each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the one before. Professor david oderberg on conscientious objection. The obvious reply to this argument is that babies are 3david s. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Oderberg is lecturer in philosophy at the university of read ing. Professor oderberg is globally recognised as a leading thinker on conscience rights, and was cited by the us supreme court in burwell v. He is the author or editor of several books in metaphysics and moral philosophy, and has contributed numerous journal articles on metaphysics, moral philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, and other topics. He completed his doctorate at wolfson college, oxford, and became lecturer in philosophy at reading in 1992. Oderberg few moral theorists would disagree that the fundamental principle of morality perhaps of practical rationality itself is do good and avoid evil. The value of an act is determined by ones reasons for doing it. Professor david simon oderberg born 1963 is an australian philosopher of metaphysicsand ethicsbased in britain since 1987.
Towards a natural law critique of genetic engineering. Oderbergs discussion of the issues is rich and thought provoking. Alfonsogomezlobo 2002 morality and the human goods washington, dc. One of the virtues of natural law theory nlt is that it takes ontology seriously. He has written four books and edited or coedited five others, as well as being the author of over sixty papers.
David oderbergs new book is, as far as i know, the only comprehensive book. The same thing applies to forcing another soldier to make the ultimate sacrifice. Themes in contemporary metaphysics blackwell, 1999. May 20, 2019 the moral life is not about maximizing consequences. Michael gove, the times, september 26, 2001 it is a robust and uncompromising defence of traditional values. Professor oderberg is globally recognised as a leading thinker on. Iirc, oderberg does not get into the soldiers and the grenade case, but a close reading of moral theory shows the problems of relying on intention to do the heavy lifting. Department of philosophy, university of reading, reading, rg6 6aa, u.
But when it comes to morality, our aim is to be a good person, to act in the right way as a human being. Ideals and constraints in moral theory by catherine wilson. Human values brings together an international group of moral philosophers who in various respects share the aims and ideals of natural. Oderberg the metaphysics of good and evil is the first, fulllength contemporary defence, from the perspective of analytic philosophy, of the scholastic theory of good and evil the theory of aristotle, augustine, aquinas, and most medieval and thomistic philosophers. Morality, religion, and cosmic justice request pdf. National coal board v gamble 1959 1 qb 11, 1958 all er 203.