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Article
Multi-Dimensional Consequentialism and Degrees of Rightness
Philosophical Studies
(2016)
Abstract
In his recent book, The Dimensions of Consequentialism, Martin Peterson puts forward a new version of consequentialism that he dubs ‘multi-dimensional consequentialism’. The defining thesis of the new theory is that there are irreducible moral aspects that jointly determine the deontic status of an act. In defending his particular version of multi-dimensional consequentialism, Peterson advocates the thesis – he calls it DEGREE – that if two or more moral aspects clash, the act under consideration is right to some non-extreme degree. This goes against the orthodoxy according to which – Peterson calls this RESOLUTION – each act is always either entirely right or entirely wrong. The argument against RESOLUTION appeals to the existence of so-called deontic leaps: the idea is that endorsing RESOLUTION would not give each relevant moral aspect its due in the final analysis. Our paper argues that, contrary to Peterson, (1) all moral aspects remain visible in what can properly be called the final analysis of a moral theory that involves RESOLUTION; (2) moral aspects do not have to remain visible in judgements of all-things-considered rightness or wrongness, respectively; (3) introduction of what Peterson calls verdictive reasons does not change the overall picture in favour of DEGREE. We conclude that multi-dimensional consequentialists should accept RESOLUTION rather than DEGREE.
Keywords
- moral dimensions moral reasons,
- moral rightness,
- consequentialism,
- Martin Peterson
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
Citation Information
Attila Tanyi and Vuko Andric. "Multi-Dimensional Consequentialism and Degrees of Rightness" Philosophical Studies Vol. 173 Iss. 3 (2016) p. 311 - 331 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/attila_tanyi/1/