Description
Book SynopsisDesert and Virtue: A Theory of Intrinsic Value presents a comprehensive examination of desert and what makes people deserve things. Stephen Kershnar demonstrates how desert relates to virtue, good deeds, moral responsibility, and personal change and growth through the life process. He persuasively argues that desert is a function that relates well-being, intrinsic value, and a ground, which is defined as a person''s character or act. Kershnar also explores whether his theory is consistent with the limited responsibility people have for who they are. Desert and Virtue''s insightful analysis will be particularly useful for those interested in philosophy, religion, and other fields that touch on value theory.
Trade ReviewThis book makes a valuable and original contribution to the literature on desert. The argumentation is admirably clear and concise and the overall picture that emerges is in many ways a plausible and attractive one. Anyone interested in the issues Kershnar discusses will benefit from engaging with this fine work. -- David Boonin, University of Colorado
Thought-provoking and brimming with interesting ideas. * Social Theory and Practice, July 2010 *
This book exhibits all of the virtues of Stephen Kershnar's work in general: it is highly intelligent, philosophically sophisticated, and both penetrating and provocative. Kershnar offers an alternative to the 'standard' treatment of desert and his discussions of the various dimensions of the concept of desert are engaging, well-informed by relevant literature, and illuminating. Desert and Virtue is admirably concise and fun to read. -- John Fischer, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Riverside
Despite the book's deceptively simple thesis, and its brevity, the author's argument presumes close familiarity with the sprawling, intricate vocabulary of contemporary meta-ethics. It also requires extensive attention to the current academic literature in analytic ethics. Kershnar's work is well laid out and supported and researched and engages interesting questions....It is recommended...primarily for professional philosophers and other academic researchers interested in foundational questions in contemporary meta-ethics. * Metapsychology Online *
Table of ContentsChapter 1: A Theory of Intrinsic Value Chapter 2: The Geometry of Desert Chapter 3: The Time of Intrinsic Value Chapter 4: The Momentary Theory of Desert Chapter 5: Desert and the Principle of Universality Chapter 6: The Ground of Desert Chapter 7: The Building-Block Theory of Virtue Chapter 8: Virtuous Attitudes Chapter 9: Desert and Responsibility
