Value, Respect, and Attachment

A concise, pithy and attractively humane account of some fundamental questions of social existence.

Joseph Raz (Author)

9780521000222, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 16 August 2001

188 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.5 cm, 0.273 kg

'This engaging book explores the central issues surrounding value in an interesting and thought-provoking manner and is well worth reading.' Philosophical Writings

The book is a contribution to the study of values, as they affect both our personal and our public life. It defends the view that values are necessarily universal, on the ground that that is a condition of their intelligibility. It does, however, reject most common conceptions of universality, like those embodied in the writings on human rights. It aims to reconcile the universality of value with (a) the social dependence of value and (b) the centrality to our life of deep attachments to people and countries alike. Building from there, the book explores personal love, the value of life, and the fundamental duty of respect for people.

1. Introduction
2. Value and uniqueness
3. Universality and difference
4. The value of staying alive
5. Respecting people
Index.

Subject Areas: Jurisprudence & philosophy of law [LAB], Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]