Supererogation

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Supererogation
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Christopher Cowley
SeriesRoyal Institute of Philosophy Supplements
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:254
Dimensions(mm): Height 228,Width 152
Category/GenrePhilosophy
Ethics and moral philosophy
ISBN/Barcode 9781107545731
ClassificationsDewey:170
Audience
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 15 October 2015
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

According to its simplest definition, supererogation means freely and intentionally doing good beyond the requirements of duty. A more complex definition incorporates the responses of third parties: the supererogatory act is one that is praiseworthy if performed, but not blameworthy if omitted, as long as one does one's duty. This collection of essays, based on papers delivered at the Royal Institute of Philosophy's Annual Conference in Dublin in June 2014, explores a broad range of philosophical problems that stem from various definitions of supererogation. How can something be good and yet not required? How relevant is the agent's motivation to our assessment of that agent's sacrifice? What is the difference between supererogation and virtue? Is supererogation essential to friendship and love? Do all of us have the genuine capacity to be saints and heroes?

Author Biography

Christopher Cowley is Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Dublin, Ireland. He is the author of Moral Responsibility (2013) and the editor of The Philosophy of Autobiography (2015).