Practical Reason in Law and Morality

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Law, Jurisprudence, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy
Cover of the book Practical Reason in Law and Morality by Neil MacCormick, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Neil MacCormick ISBN: 9780191021473
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: December 18, 2008
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Neil MacCormick
ISBN: 9780191021473
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: December 18, 2008
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

The concept of practical reason is central to contemporary thought on ethics and the philosophy of law - acting well means acting for good reasons. Explaining this requires several stages. How do reasons relate to actions at all, as incentives and in explanations? What are values, how do they relate to human nature, and how do they enter practical reasoning? How do the concepts of 'right and wrong' fit in, and in what way do they involve questions of mutual trust among human beings? How does our moral freedom - our freedom to form our own moral commitments - relate to our responsibilities to each other? How is this final question transposed into law and legal commitments? This book explores these questions, vital to understanding the nature of law and morality. It presents a clear account of practical reason, valuable to students of moral philosophy and jurisprudence at undergraduate or postgraduate levels. For more advanced scholars it also offers a reinterpretation of Kant's views on moral autonomy and Smith's on self-command, marrying Smith's 'moral sentiments' to Kant's 'categorical imperative' in a novel way. The book concludes and underpins the author's Law, State, and Practical Reason series. Taken together the books offer an overarching theory of the nature of law and legal reason, the role of the State, and the nature of moral reason and judgement.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The concept of practical reason is central to contemporary thought on ethics and the philosophy of law - acting well means acting for good reasons. Explaining this requires several stages. How do reasons relate to actions at all, as incentives and in explanations? What are values, how do they relate to human nature, and how do they enter practical reasoning? How do the concepts of 'right and wrong' fit in, and in what way do they involve questions of mutual trust among human beings? How does our moral freedom - our freedom to form our own moral commitments - relate to our responsibilities to each other? How is this final question transposed into law and legal commitments? This book explores these questions, vital to understanding the nature of law and morality. It presents a clear account of practical reason, valuable to students of moral philosophy and jurisprudence at undergraduate or postgraduate levels. For more advanced scholars it also offers a reinterpretation of Kant's views on moral autonomy and Smith's on self-command, marrying Smith's 'moral sentiments' to Kant's 'categorical imperative' in a novel way. The book concludes and underpins the author's Law, State, and Practical Reason series. Taken together the books offer an overarching theory of the nature of law and legal reason, the role of the State, and the nature of moral reason and judgement.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Human Being, Bodily Being by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Career Behaviour and the European Parliament: All Roads Lead Through Brussels? by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book The Progresses, Pageants, and Entertainments of Queen Elizabeth I by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Dante: A Very Short Introduction by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Human-Wildlife Conflict by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Gender and Green Governance by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Principles of Medical Law by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book The Evolution of Parental Care by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Rethinking Existentialism by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Backgazing: Reverse Time in Modernist Culture by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Beyond the Dynamical Universe by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Rights and Demands by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book China, Asia, and the New World Economy by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book Moscow Tales by Neil MacCormick
Cover of the book A Dictionary of Chemistry by Neil MacCormick
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy