Supererogation

This volume, based on the Royal Institute of Philosophy's Annual Conference in 2014, explores the concept of supererogation.

Christopher Cowley (Edited by)

9781107545731, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 October 2015

254 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1 cm, 0.36 kg

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?

List of contributors
1. Introduction: the agents, acts and attitudes of supererogation Christopher Cowley
2. Can virtue ethics account for supererogation? David Heyd
3. Beyond obligation: reasons and supererogation Michael Ferry
4. Disjunctive duties and supererogatory sets of actions Matthias Brinkman
5. Beyond the call of duty: the structure of a moral region Ulla Wessels
6. Saints, heroes and moral necessity Alfred Archer
7. Is supererogation more than just costly sacrifice? Elizabeth Drummond-Young
8. Adopting roles: generosity and presumptuousness Rowland Stout
9. Supererogation and the relationship between religious and secular ethics: some perspectives drawn from Thomas Aquinas and John of the Cross Mark Wynn
10. Religion, forgiveness and humanity Christopher Hamilton
11. Beyond obligation?: Jean-Marie Guyau on life and ethics Keith Ansell-Pearson
12. Assimilating supererogation D. K. Levy.

Subject Areas: Spirituality & religious experience [HRLK], Theology [HRLB], Aspects of religion [non-Christian HRL], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy [HP], Humanities [H]