Reasons and persons
This book challenges some of our deepest beliefs about rationality, morality, and personal identity. The author claims that we have a false view of our own nature; that it is often rational to act against our own best interests; that most of us have moral views that are directly self-defeating; that we often act wrongly, even though there will be no one with any serious ground for a complaint; and that, when we consider future generations, it is very hard to avoid conclusions which most of us will find disturbing.-- From publisher's description
xv, 543 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
9780198246152, 9780198249085, 0198246153, 019824908X
9827659
Part 1. Self-defeating theories
1. Theories that are indirectly self-defeating
2. Practical dilemmas
3. Five mistakes in moral mathematics
4. Theories that are directly self-defeating
5. Conclusions
Part 2. Rationality and time
6. The best objection to the self-interest theory
7. The appeal to full relativity
8. Different attitudes to time
9. Why we should reject
Part 3. Personal identity
10. What we believe ourselves to be
11. How we are not what we believe
12. Why our identity is not what we believe
13. What does matter
14. Personal identity and rationality
15. Personal identity and morality
Part 4. Future generations
16. The non-identity problem
17. The repugnant conclusion
18. The absurd conclusion
19. The mere addition paradox
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