Peter Singer's argument for Utilitarianism

Journal article


Buckle, Stephen. (2005). Peter Singer's argument for Utilitarianism. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics. 26(3), pp. 175 - 194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-005-3976-x
AuthorsBuckle, Stephen
Abstract

Abstract The paper begins by situating Singer within the British meta-ethical tradition. It sets out the main steps in his argument for utilitarianism as the ‘default setting’ of ethical thought. It argues that Singer’s argument depends on a hierarchy of reasons, such that the ethical viewpoint is understood to be an adaptation – an extension – of a fundamental self-interest. It concludes that the argument fails because it is impossible to get from this starting-point in self-interest to his conception of the ethical point of view. The fundamental problem is its mixing the immiscible: the Humean subordination of reason to interest with the Kantian conception of reason as universal and authoritative.

Year2005
JournalTheoretical Medicine and Bioethics
Journal citation26 (3), pp. 175 - 194
ISSN1573-1200
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-005-3976-x
Scopus EID2-s2.0-21344435986
Page range175 - 194
Research GroupSchool of Philosophy
Place of publicationNetherlands
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/87vqv/peter-singer-s-argument-for-utilitarianism

  • 107
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

What is the Natural Law tradition?
Buckle, Stephen. (2013). What is the Natural Law tradition? Res Disputandae. 19, pp. 6 - 16.
Hume's preference for the enquiry: A reply to Miller
Buckle, Stephen. (2013). Hume's preference for the enquiry: A reply to Miller. British Journal for the History of Philosophy. 21(6), pp. 1219 - 1229. https://doi.org/10.1080/09608788.2013.867475
Gaita's moral philosophy and the rational soul
Buckle, Stephen. (2013). Gaita's moral philosophy and the rational soul. Philosophical Investigations. 36(4), pp. 285 - 302. https://doi.org/10.1111/phin.12030
Understanding Hume on Miracles
Buckle, Stephen. (2012). Understanding Hume on Miracles. Ethics Education. 18(1 and 2), pp. 45 - 60.
Hume on the Passions
Buckle, Stephen. (2012). Hume on the Passions. Philosophy. 87(340), pp. 189 - 213.
Introduction : Hume and his Intellectual Legacy
Taylor, Craig and Buckle, Stephen. (2011). Introduction : Hume and his Intellectual Legacy. In In Taylor, Craig and Buckle, Stephen (Ed.). Hume and the Enlightenment pp. 62 - 75 Pickering and Chatto.
Hume and the Enlightenment
Buckle, Stephen. (2011). Hume and the Enlightenment. In In C Taylor and S Buckle (Ed.). Hume and the Enlightenment pp. 13 - 37 Pickering and Chatto.
Assessing Peter Singer's argument for utilitarianism :drawing a lesson from Rousseau and Kant
Buckle, Stephen. (2011). Assessing Peter Singer's argument for utilitarianism :drawing a lesson from Rousseau and Kant. The Journal of Value Inquiry. 45(2), pp. 215 - 227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10790-011-9279-8
Philosophy, Historiography and the Enlightenment : a response to Green
Buckle, Stephen. (2011). Philosophy, Historiography and the Enlightenment : a response to Green. In In Taylor, C. and Buckle, S. (Ed.). Hume and the Enlightenment pp. 53 - 64 Pickering and Chatto.
Hume in the enlightenment tradition
Buckle, Stephen. (2008). Hume in the enlightenment tradition. In In E.S. Radcliffe (Ed.). A Companion to Hume pp. 21 - 37 Blackwell Publishers Inc.
Hume's sceptical materialism
Buckle, Stephen. (2007). Hume's sceptical materialism. Philosophy. 82(322), pp. 553 - 578. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031819107000150
Introduction
Buckle, Stephen. (2007). Introduction. In In S. Buckle (Ed.). David Hume, An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding and other Writings pp. 9 - 31 Cambridge University Press.
Descartes, Plato and the cave
Buckle, Stephen. (2007). Descartes, Plato and the cave. Philosophy. 82(320), pp. 301 - 337. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031819107320056
Consequentialism and utilitarianism' form and content in recent moral theory
Buckle, Stephen. (2006). Consequentialism and utilitarianism' form and content in recent moral theory. Ethics Education: a journal for applied philosophy and ethics in the Christian tradition. 12(2), pp. 13 - 21.
Analytical philosophy and continental philosophy: The Campbell thesis revised
Buckle, Stephen. (2004). Analytical philosophy and continental philosophy: The Campbell thesis revised. British Journal for the History of Philosophy. 12(1), pp. 111 - 150. https://doi.org/10.1080/0960878042000188883
Aristotle's republic; or why Aristotle's ethics is not virtue ethics
Buckle, Stephen. (2002). Aristotle's republic; or why Aristotle's ethics is not virtue ethics. Philosophy. 77(302), pp. 565 - 595.