Ideas from 'Against Liberalism' by John Kekes [1997], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Against Liberalism' by Kekes,John [Cornell 1997,0-8014-8400-6]].

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12. Knowledge Sources / E. Direct Knowledge / 2. Intuition
Intuitions don't prove things; they just receptivity to interpretations
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions
Liberals say we are only responsible for fully autonomous actions
Collective responsibility conflicts with responsibility's requirement of authonomy
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / g. Moral responsibility
Morality should aim to prevent all evil actions, not just autonomous ones
Effects show the existence of moral responsibility, and mental states show the degree
Much human evil is not autonomous, so moral responsibility need not be autonomous
Evil people may not be autonomously aware, if they misjudge the situation
Moral and causal responsibility are not clearly distinct
Ought implies can means moral responsibility needs autonomy
Why should moral responsibility depend on autonomy, rather than social role or experience?
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature
Liberals assume people are naturally free, equal, rational, and morally good
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love
Love should be partial, and discriminate in favour of its object
Sentimental love distorts its object
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / j. Evil
Evil is not deviation from the good, any more than good is a deviation from evil
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism
What matters for morality is the effects of action, not the psychological causes
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / e. Character
It is said that if an agent is not autonomous then their evil actions don't reflect on their character
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / f. Compassion
Awareness of others' suffering doesn't create an obligation to help
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / b. Veil of ignorance
The veil of ignorance is only needed because people have bad motivations
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
The chief function of the state is to arbitrate between contending visions of the good life
24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship
Citizenship is easier than parenthood
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 1. Social Power
Power is meant to be confined to representatives, and subsequent delegation
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 3. Conservatism
Prosperity is a higher social virtue than justice
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics
Liberal basics are pluralism, freedom, rights, equality, and distributive justice - for autonomy
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism
The key liberal values are explained by the one core value, which is autonomy
Agents have little control over the capacities needed for liberal autonomy
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / c. Liberal equality
Liberals are egalitarians, but in varying degrees
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / d. Liberal freedom
Are egalitarians too coercive, or not egalitarian enough, or lax over morality?
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / g. Liberalism critique
Liberal distribution cares more about recipients than donors
Liberal justice ignores desert, which is the essence of justice
Why do liberals not see a much wider range of values as basic?
Liberals ignore contingency, and think people are good and equal, and institutions cause evil
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
To rectify the undeserved equality, we should give men longer and women shorter lives
It is just a fact that some people are morally better than others
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
It is not deplorable that billionaires have more than millionaires
The problem is basic insufficiency of resources, not their inequality
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
Justice combines consistency and desert; treat likes alike, judging likeness by desert
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 3. Welfare provision
Liberal welfare focuses on need rather than desert
25. Social Practice / F. Life Issues / 5. Sexual Morality
Sexual morality doesn't require monogamy, but it needs a group of sensible regulations