This book provides a complete and convincing account of what rights we do and do not have, who has them, and why. Presenting the foundations of a liberal, individualistic theory of rights, Lomasky explains the place of rights within the overall structure of morality, arguing for the moral importance of individual commitments to and pursuit of "projects." After developing his theory of basic rights, Lomasky demonstrates its implications for a variety of problems and issues, including property rights, the rights of children, and the status of the unborn, defective persons, animals, and even the dead. Arguing for a fundamental reshaping of philosophical ethics, Lomasky develops a credible alternative to currently fashionable views.
Industry Reviews
"Clear, careful, and well structured, with occasional wit and even passion. Lomasky's arguments are original and important. His book is the only convincing defense, that I know of, of the moderate libertarianism which so often lies undefended and even unexpressed behind contemporary philosophical arguements in applied ethics, political, and legal philosophy. The book promises to inspire other fruitful efforts to advance beyond the shaky starting point of most
traditional rights theories."--John Simmons, University of Virginia
"A tough-minded, intricately worked out philosophical argument, in many respects superior to Nozick's well-known libertarian defense. Highly recommended for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses."--Religious Studies Review
"An important event in the philosophical development of classical liberal theory....Readable, entertaining, and far too full of moral truths to be confined to the artificial world of the academic."--Reason
"An important work. Even those disagreeing with its central thesis will find it challenging."--American Political Science Review
"Imaginative and elegantly presented."--The Philosophical Review
"Clear, careful, and well structured, with occasional wit and even passion. Lomasky's arguments are original and important. His book is the only convincing defense, that I know of, of the moderate libertarianism which so often lies undefended and even unexpressed behind contemporary philosophical arguements in applied ethics, political, and legal philosophy. The book promises to inspire other fruitful efforts to advance beyond the shaky starting point of most
traditional rights theories."--John Simmons, University of Virginia
"A tough-minded, intricately worked out philosophical argument, in many respects superior to Nozick's well-known libertarian defense. Highly recommended for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses."--Religious Studies Review
"An important event in the philosophical development of classical liberal theory....Readable, entertaining, and far too full of moral truths to be confined to the artificial world of the academic."--Reason
"An important work. Even those disagreeing with its central thesis will find it challenging."--American Political Science Review
"Imaginative and elegantly presented."--The Philosophical Review
"Loren E. Lomasky's profound, arresting and radically original book challenges our belief that rights theory can be no more than a sophisticated restatement of fashionable liberal prejudice. In a brilliant exploration of the morality of individualism, Lomasky applies a fresh and drastic turn of mind to the derivation of basic rights and thereby contests some of the most deeply entrenched suppositions of moral and political philosophy...His argument is the best
we have in defence of basic rights."--Times Literary Supplement
"His style is engaging, accessible, and often vivid....Quite the most valuable feature of this book is that, in place of Nozick's parenthetical questions and undefended assumptions, it actually sets out to make a systematic case in favor of a libertarian rights theory."--Ethics
"Recommended for college and university collections."--Choice
"It displays insight and perspicuity throughout....An important first step towards developing a philosophically respectable theory of rights."--Law and Philosophy
"Carefully crafted and skillfully executed. The range of issues it discusses is impressive; and its assessments of a variety of positions in contemporary moral philosophy are insightful."--Noûs
"Highly readable and often stimulating."--Cross Currents
