The Repugnant Conclusion

by RYBERG, JESPER; Tannsjo, Torbjorn

• ISBN13: 9781402024726
• ISBN10: 140202472X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-30
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

Most people (including moral philosophers), when faced with the fact that some of their cherished moral views lead up to the Repugnant Conclusion, feel that they have to revise their moral outlook. However, it is a moot question as to how this should be done. It is not an easy thing to say how one should avoid the Repugnant Conclusion, without having to face even more serious implications from one's basic moral outlook. Several such attempts are presented in this volume. This is the first volume devoted entirely to the cardinal problem of modern population ethics, known as 'The Repugnant Conclusion'. This book is a must for (moral) philosophers with an interest in population ethics.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	1	(6)
Jesper Ryberg and Torbjorn Tannsjo
OVERPOPULATION AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE	7	(16)
Derek Parfit
TWO PARFIT PUZZLES	23	(22)
Tim Mulgan
CRITICAL-LEVEL POPULATION PRINCIPLES AND THE REPUGNANT CONCLUSION	45	(16)
Charles Blackorby, Walter Bossert and David Donaldson
O REPUGNANCE, WHERE IS THY STING?	61	(20)
Clark Wolf
RESOLVING THE REPUGNANT CONCLUSION	81	(18)
Tyler Cowen
PERSON-BASED CONSEQUENTIALISM AND THE PROCREATION OBLIGATION	99	(30)
Melinda A. Roberts
PERSON-AFFECTING MORALITIES	129	(34)
Nils Holtug
REPUGNANCE OR INTRANSITIVITY: A REPUGNANT BUT FORCED CHOICE	163	(24)
Stuart Rachels
THE ROOT OF THE REPUGNANT CONCLUSION AND ITS REBUTTAL	187	(14)
Ingmar Persson
THE PARADOXES OF FUTURE GENERATIONS AND NORMATIVE THEORY	201	(18)
Gustaf Arrhenius
WHY WE OUGHT TO ACCEPT THE REPUGNANT CONCLUSION	219	(20)
Torbjörn Tännsjö
THE REPUGNANT CONCLUSION AND WORTHWHILE LIVING	239	(18)
Jesper Ryberg
POSTSCRIPT	257	(2)
Derek Parfit
INDEX OF NAMES	259