Few contemporary philosophers have made as wide-ranging and insightful a contribution to philosophical debate as John Cottingham. This collection brings together friends, colleagues and former students of Cottingham, to discuss major themes of his work on moral philosophy. Presented in three parts the collection focuses on the debate on partiality, impartiality and character; the role of emotions and reason in the good life; the meaning of a worthwhile life and the place of theistic considerations in it. The original contributions to this volume celebrate Cottingham's work by embracing and furthering his arguments and, at times, in the best spirit of philosophical engagement, challenging and confronting them. The volume concludes with Cottingham's specially commissioned responses to the contributions.
'This fine collection of essays honors the distinguished work of John Cottingham. The contributors examine critically his distinctive and thoughtful treatments of some of the most fundamental questions in ethics, such as the meaning of life, the connection between religion and ethics, the psychoanalytic approach to human motivation, and the place of emotions in ethics. Cottingham's replies defend, develop, and clarify his views. All in all, this is a most valuable exchange showing how philosophy can be done reasonably and humanistically without the mock precision and jargon that imitates scientific writings.' - John Kekes
'This is a very fine collection of essays, celebrating John Cottingham's seminal work on three major issues: the place of impartiality and partiality in ethics and in our lives; the interplay of reason and emotion; and the relation between the religious attitude and the meaning of life. The contributors engage closely with Cottingham's work, which gives a remarkable thematic unity to the book. I recommend it highly.' - Professor David McNaughton, Honorary Vice-President, British Society for Ethical Theory
Acknowledgements
Notes on Contributors
Introduction; N.Athanassoulis & S.Vice
PART 1: PARTIALITY, SPIRITUALITY AND CHARACTER
The Significance of the Self: Partiality and Spirituality; S.Vice
Contempt and Integrity; M.de Gaynesford
Self-Love, Love of Neighbour, and Impartiality; D.S.Oderberg
PART 2: THE EMOTIONS AND THE GOOD LIFE
Akrasia and the Emotions; N.Athanassoulis
The Inner Life of the 'Dear Self'; S.Morgan
What Reason Can't Do; M.Lacewing
PART 3: THE MEANING OF LIFE
Meaning, Morality, and Religion; R.Crisp
The Meaning of Life: Subjectivism, Objectivism, and Divine Support; B.Hooker
God, Morality and the Meaning of Life; T.Metz
The Self, the Good Life and the Transcendent; J.Cottingham
Index
NAFSIKA ATHANASSOULIS is Lecturer in Ethics at Keele University, UK. She is the author of Morality: Moral Luck and Responsibility: Fortune's Web and editor of Philosophical Reflections on Medial Ethics.
SAMANTHA VICE is Lecturer in Philosophy at Rhodes University, South Africa. She is co-author, with Ward E. Jones, of Ethics in Film, and has published papers on the self, goodness, self-judgement and the work of Iris Murdoch.
Description
Few contemporary philosophers have made as wide-ranging and insightful a contribution to philosophical debate as John Cottingham. This collection brings together friends, colleagues and former students of Cottingham, to discuss major themes of his work on moral philosophy. Presented in three parts the collection focuses on the debate on partiality, impartiality and character; the role of emotions and reason in the good life; the meaning of a worthwhile life and the place of theistic considerations in it. The original contributions to this volume celebrate Cottingham's work by embracing and furthering his arguments and, at times, in the best spirit of philosophical engagement, challenging and confronting them. The volume concludes with Cottingham's specially commissioned responses to the contributions.
Reviews
'This fine collection of essays honors the distinguished work of John Cottingham. The contributors examine critically his distinctive and thoughtful treatments of some of the most fundamental questions in ethics, such as the meaning of life, the connection between religion and ethics, the psychoanalytic approach to human motivation, and the place of emotions in ethics. Cottingham's replies defend, develop, and clarify his views. All in all, this is a most valuable exchange showing how philosophy can be done reasonably and humanistically without the mock precision and jargon that imitates scientific writings.' - John Kekes
'This is a very fine collection of essays, celebrating John Cottingham's seminal work on three major issues: the place of impartiality and partiality in ethics and in our lives; the interplay of reason and emotion; and the relation between the religious attitude and the meaning of life. The contributors engage closely with Cottingham's work, which gives a remarkable thematic unity to the book. I recommend it highly.' - Professor David McNaughton, Honorary Vice-President, British Society for Ethical Theory
Contents
Acknowledgements
Notes on Contributors
Introduction; N.Athanassoulis & S.Vice
PART 1: PARTIALITY, SPIRITUALITY AND CHARACTER
The Significance of the Self: Partiality and Spirituality; S.Vice
Contempt and Integrity; M.de Gaynesford
Self-Love, Love of Neighbour, and Impartiality; D.S.Oderberg
PART 2: THE EMOTIONS AND THE GOOD LIFE
Akrasia and the Emotions; N.Athanassoulis
The Inner Life of the 'Dear Self'; S.Morgan
What Reason Can't Do; M.Lacewing
PART 3: THE MEANING OF LIFE
Meaning, Morality, and Religion; R.Crisp
The Meaning of Life: Subjectivism, Objectivism, and Divine Support; B.Hooker
God, Morality and the Meaning of Life; T.Metz
The Self, the Good Life and the Transcendent; J.Cottingham
Index
Authors
NAFSIKA ATHANASSOULIS is Lecturer in Ethics at Keele University, UK. She is the author of Morality: Moral Luck and Responsibility: Fortune's Web and editor of Philosophical Reflections on Medial Ethics.
SAMANTHA VICE is Lecturer in Philosophy at Rhodes University, South Africa. She is co-author, with Ward E. Jones, of Ethics in Film, and has published papers on the self, goodness, self-judgement and the work of Iris Murdoch.
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