Description
Book SynopsisThis text addresses what it means to be a good or decent person. The discussion is centered on motivation issues, rather than on the content of moral principles or the imperitives of ethical theory. The background for the discussion is the world at large.
Trade ReviewThe best feature of the book is its organizing vision—one of deep humanistic sensitivity. -- Jeffrie Murphy
Care has performed a valuable service by examining the variety of motivating factors that support a moral life. His caution and reluctance to accept easy answers are commendable. * Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association *
It is a distinctive feature of this engaging book that it contrives to be both unsettling and comforting at the same time. * Practical Philosophy *
Norman Care writes lucidly and engagingly, without technical jargon. His ideas speak to concerns everyone has, or should have. This often subtle and highly nuanced book makes in important contribution to philosophical ethics in the ways that it takes emotional responses seriously. * Philosophy and Phenomenological Research *
As part of his on-going project of becoming reconciled to the human condition, Norman Care asks how we are to respond to the apparent fact that people are, from time to time, simply indifferent to what they would even admit were serious moral issues. In taking up related issues, he considers the thorny problem of how to motivate concern for very distant future generations, which makes an important contribution to enviornmental ethics. One of the refreshing things about Norman Care's work is that he is impossible to classify, he appears to have no axes to grind, and he defines issues for himself in a novel way. -- Claudia Card
Table of ContentsChapter 1 1: Motivation Issues Chapter 2 2: Moralized Suffering, Recovery, Meaningful Life Chapter 3 3:Forgiveness and Effective Agency Chapter 4 4: Self-Respect Chapter 5 5: Others Needs Chapter 6 6:Future People and Novel Ideas Chapter 7 7: Indifference and Reconciliation Chapter 8 Appendix A: Space for Motivation Chapter 9 Appendix B: Hidden Reasons
