Offense to Others [Paperback]

The second volume in Joel Feinberg's seriesThe Moral Limits of the Criminal Law,Offense to Othersfocuses on the offense principle, which maintains that preventing shock, disgust, or revulsion is always a morally relevant reason for legal prohibitions. Feinberg clarifies the concept of an offended mental state and further contrasts the concept of offense with harm. He also considers the law of nuisance as a model for statutes creating morals offenses, showing its inadequacy as a model for understanding profound offenses, and discusses such issues as obscene words and social policy, pornography and the Constitution, and the differences between minor and profound offenses.

Feinberg is perceptive, responsive to the existing literature, candid in owning to difficulty, and everywhere calm and sane. This is truly impressive philosophical writing. --Philosophy and Public Affairs

Original, thought provoking, and vividly argued....His discussion of vulgarity, obscenity, and pornography is a model of clarity and lucidity....One feels impelled to return to the book time and again. --British Journal of Criminology

An original and profound contribution to both political philosophy and criminal and constitutional law worthy of the great liberal tradition of John Stuart Mill which it develops and deepens. Its combination of precise argument, vivid examples, and beautiful style merges, magically, philosophical rigor, moral depth, and shrewd and probing psychological observation. --David A.J. Richards,New York University Law School

[The book] lights up the issues with ingenious examples, and addresses them with honesty, lucidity, passion, elegance and wit. --The Review of Politics