Ethics without Principles [Hardcover]

What is a moral principle, and what do moral principles tell us? What if all suggested principles were defeated by counter-examples? Would moral judgement still be possible? In this book Jonathan Dancy argues that the traditional link between morality and principles, or between being moral and having principles, is little more than a mistake. This claim, known as 'particularism', has recently been attracting a great deal of attention, and Dancy is one of its leading proponents.Ethics Without Principlesis the definitive presentation of his position, and will be required reading for all moral philosophers.

1. What are the options?
I. Catching the contributory
2. Contributory reasons
3. Beyond favouring
4. Dropping the catch
II. From holism to particularism
5. Holism and its consequences
6. Can holism be true?
7. Competing pictures
8. Knowing reasons
III. Holism in the theory of value
9. Intrinsic and extrinsic value
10. Are there organic unities?
11. Rationality, value, and meaning
12. Principles of rational valuing

It is a hugely rewarding and interesting read, at the cutting edge of contemporary debate in the area: truly a book that cannot be ignored. --Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews