Description
Book SynopsisThe author offers answers to three central questions about well-being: the best way to understand it; whether it can be measured; and where it should fit in moral and political thought.This is a paperback reissue of the title published in hardback in 1986.
Trade Review'the finest most encyclopedic book devoted to understanding the nature of human well-being and its moral importance written this century' David Sobel, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
'There is a tendency in some utilitarian writings to neglect or deny the complexity of ethical thought and practice. James Griffin, by contrast, is alive to this complexity ... suggests more sensitive and less doctrinaire utilitarianism than many have thought possible.' Samuel Scheffler in The Times Literary Supplement
'This is an important and fascinating book ... this is a valuable study for a very wide audience of theoretical and applied researches. Since receiving the review copy, our research team have consulted it almost daily and we are grateful to the author for condensing such an essential literature.' Caroline Selai and Rachel Rosser, BMAS Newsletter, Summer '93
Table of ContentsPart 1 Utilitarian accounts: state of mind or state of the world; - the desire account developed; objective accounts; perfectionism and the ends of life. Part 2 Measurement: are there incommensurable values?; the case of one person; the case of many persons. Part 3 Moral importance: from prudence to morality; equal respect; fairness; rights; desert; distribution.
