Dale Dorsey considers one of the most fundamental questions in philosophical ethics: to what extent do the demands of morality have normative authority over us and our lives? Must we conform to moral requirements? Most who have addressed this question have treated the normative significance of morality as simply a fact to be explained. But Dorsey argues that this traditional assumption is misguided. According to Dorsey, not only are we not required to conform to moral demands, conforming to morality's demands will not always even be normatively permissible---moral behavior can be (quite literally) wrong. This view is significant not only for understanding the content and force of the moral point of view, but also for understanding the basic elements of how one ought to live.
Dale Dorsey is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Kansas. He has published widely on issues in normative ethics, metaethics, and political philosophy.
Introduction1: The Concept of Normative Authority2: A Priori Rationalism3: Supremacy and Impartiality4: Supremacy and the Supererogatory5: Defending and Rejecting Permission, Part One: Defending6: Defending and Rejecting Permission, Part Two: RejectingBibliographyIndexIntroduction1: The Concept of Normative Authority2: A Priori Rationalism3: Supremacy and Impartiality4: Supremacy and the Supererogatory5: Defending and Rejecting Permission, Part One: Defending6: Defending and Rejecting Permission, Part Two: RejectingBibliographyIndex
Dale Dorsey has written an impressive book, which is a must-read for anyone interested in the normative authority of morality. The book concerns to what extent we should live our lives in accordance with either moral requirements or moral considerations this is a fascinating and important book that I encourage others to read and engage with critically.