Marx, Morality and the Virtue of Beneficence

by Robert T. Sweet

Overview

The purpose of this book is to contribute to the contemporary debate among Western philosophers concerning two questions. Did Marx hold a particular moral theory as an objective basis for condemning capitalism? And, if so, then what was the theoretical basis for his moral critique of capitalism? Marx, Morality and the Virtue of Beneficence answers the first question in the affirmative. The answer to the second question comes by way of a presentation and defense of a moral theory constructed from Marx's writings. This theory or framework has three interrelated facets: a normative view of human nature, the virtue of beneficence, and the communist principle of distributive justice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761822363
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	02/21/2002
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.46(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

Robert T. Sweet is Associate Professor of Philosophy, Clark State Community College and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Antioch University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Marx on Distributive Justice Chapter 4 Marx on Rights and the Virtue of Beneficence Chapter 5 Marx on Human Nature and Ethics Chapter 6 Marx and Morality: Further Justification and Critique Chapter 7 Bibliography Chapter 8 Index

Editorial Reviews

An attempt to resolve the seeming paradox between Marx's moral condemnations of capitalism with his alleged wholesale rejection of morality. The author argues that Marx had a human nature ethics that includes the virtue of beneficence that both provides a revolutionary motivation for the overthrow of capitalism and, when joined with the egalitarian distribution he theorized, negates the need for individual rights in a communist society. Marx's rejection of morality was really, according to this analysis, only a rejection of those theories that provide moral justification for ownership of the means of production. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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