Common Morality

Bernard Gert is Stone Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Dartmouth College. He is also the author of Morality: Its Nature and Justification, and co-author of Bioethics, and Morality and the New Genetics.

Bernard Gert's descriptive account of morality may very well be one of the most commendable contributions to the moral philosophy produced in the later part of the twentieth century...this book is important contribution to contemporary moral philosophy, especially because of its wonderful mixture of Kantian, utilitarian, and contractarian insights.

• Introduction Some Areas of Widespread Agreement Distinguishing Features of Moral Judgements Rationality and Human Nature Areas of Moral Disagreement Analogy between Morality and Grammar Part I: The Moral System Features of the Moral System The Moral Rules The Moral Ideals General Characteristics of Moral Rules Interpreting the Rules Violations of Moral Rules Involve Liability to Punishment Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules The Two-Step Procedure for Justifying Violations of the Moral Rules Moral Virtues and Vices Summary and Test Part II: The Moral Theory The Justification of Morality Characteristics of Moral Agents Knowledge or Beliefs Required of All Moral Agents Irrationality and Rationality Rationality as Maximizing Satisfaction of Desires Objectively Irrational Actions Personally Irrational Actions Reasons Versus Motives All Reasons Have Justifying Force Reasons and Desires Adequate Reasons Rationality, Morality, and Self-Interest Impartiality Two Philosophical Attempts to Achieve Moral Impartiality Justifying Moral Impartiality Why Act Morally? Morality as an Informal Public System The Role of Governments in Settling Unresolvable Moral Disagreements Rights The Consequences of Morality Not Always Providing a Unique Correct Answer A Complete Moral Theory Conclusion Flow Charts Notes Index