Lang, GR and Lawlor, R (2016) Numbers Scepticism, Equal Chances and Pluralism: Taurek Revisited. Politics, Philosophy and Economics, 15 (3). pp. 298-315. ISSN 1470-594X
Abstract
The ‘standard interpretation’ of John Taurek’s argument in ‘Should the Numbers Count?’ imputes two theses to him: first, ‘numbers scepticism’, or scepticism about the moral force of an appeal to the mere number of individuals saved in conflict cases; and second, the ‘equal greatest chances’ principle of rescue, which requires that every individual has an equal chance of being rescued. The standard interpretation is criticized here on a number of grounds. First, whilst Taurek clearly believes that equal chances are all-important, he actually argues for a position weaker than the equal greatest chances principle. Second, the argument Taurek gives for the importance of equal chances ought to commit him to being more hospitable to the significance of numbers than he seems to be. Third, and as a result, Taurek should not have dismissed the significance of numbers, but embraced a form of pluralism instead. Fourth, this result should be welcomed, because pluralism is more plausible than either the equal greatest chances principle or the saving the greater number principle.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2015, The Author(s). This is an author produced version of a paper published in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Taurek, numbers scepticism, interpersonal perspective, equal chances, saving the greater number, pluralism |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (Leeds) > School of Philosophy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2016 09:56 |
Last Modified: | 25 Oct 2016 22:32 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1470594X15618967 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/1470594X15618967 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:95189 |