Précis of The limits of morality

Abstract

My book, The Limits of Morality, offers a sustained attack on two central beliefs of commonsense morality: first, that there are limits to the sacrifices we are morally required to make for others; and second, that certain acts are morally forbidden, even if performing them would promote the overall good. I here summarize the main line of argument of the book, so as to situate the critical comments written by others that follow. (These critical comments are in turn followed by my own replies).