Caspar Hare presents a novel approach to questions of what we ought to do, and why we ought to do it. The traditional way to approach this subject is to begin by supposing a foundational principle, and then work out its implications. Consequentialists say that we ought to make the world impersonally better, for instance, while Kantian deontologists say that we ought to act on universalizable maxims. And contractualists say that we ought to act in accordance with the terms of certain hypothetical contracts. These principles are all grand and controversial. The motivating idea behind The Limits of Kindness is that we can tackle some of the most difficult problems in normative ethics by starting with a principle that is humble and uncontroversial. Being moral involves wanting particular other people to be better off. From these innocuous beginnings, Hare leads us to surprising conclusions about how we ought to resolve conflicts of interest, whether we ought to create some people rather than others, what we ought to want in an infinite world, when we ought to make sacrifices for the sake of needy strangers, and why we cannot, on pain of irrationality, attribute great importance to the boundaries between people.

About the Author
Caspar Hare is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his PhD at Princeton University, and his previous book, On Myself, and Other Less Important Subjects (Princeton University Press, 2009) was about ethical egoism and the metaphysics of the self, and was named one of CHOICE magazine's 'Outstanding Academic Titles for 2010'. He has published numerous articles on topics in ethics, metaphysics, and the theory of practical rationality in journals including Ethics, Nous, Analysis, Philosophical Studies, the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, the Journal of Philosophy, and Philosophy and Public Affairs.

Reviews
This is an outstanding book. Two features render it particularly distinctive. Many qualities render it simply excellent. One distinctive feature is methodological. Shunning reflective equilibrium, the book attempts to derive startlingly bold ethical conclusions from extremely modest assumptions about rationality and decency. The other distinctive feature is substantive. Shunning more traditional views, the conclusions it attempts to justify push ethical theory in a direction that is neither purely consequentialist nor recognizably deontological nor simply a common sense compromise between the two. As a result, the book is bracingly original in both its central claims and its means of arriving at them. Among the many qualities that render the book truly excellent, it is clearly, concisely and engagingly written, elegantly and rigorously argued, and admirably judicious in advancing strong claims. * David Boonin, Journal of Moral Philosophy *
The Limits of Kindness is an exciting book ... offers a big new idea. It is delightfully fun to read, and yet it is extremely clear and careful. If, like me, you find its conclusions somewhat maddening, you will read the book as a challenge to what you believe; it is a challenge worth answering. * Elizabeth Harman, Ethics *
In sum, Hare's book is filled with ingenious arguments and examples and there are lots of places where the reader will find herself intrigued and perplexed. * Analysis *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198748021
Author Caspar Hare
Format Paperback
Page Count 242
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 141mm * 14mm