Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation about Moral Philosophy [Hardcover]

Matthew R. Silliman (Author), David Kenneth Johnson (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1930972075 | ISBN-13: 978-1930972070 | Publication Date: October 30, 2006 | Edition: 1st

This is a dialogue that engages a number of issues in moral theory in a rigorous and original manner, while remaining accessible to students and other non-specialist readers. It accomplishes this by means of the time-honoured (if presently dormant) medium of philosophical dialogue, in which its characters actively challenge each other to clarify their ideas and defend their reasoning. In this manner the conversation develops and weighs some proposed solutions, in largely non-technical language, to a number of current and traditional moral problems (including the nature and origin of moral value, the moral status of non-human animals, problems of partiality, and other vexed topics). Moral philosophy and theory can seem as remote and intimidating as everyday ethical matters and moral intuitions are pressing. "Sentience and Sensibility" proposes that these two should meet. The book's characters gently challenge each other to clarify their thinking and defend their reasoning, and in this rigorous yet personable manner explore traditional and fresh takes on morality. The conversation aims not only to discover thoughtful answers to such questions, but to do so while being respectful of both philosophical theory and ordinary moral intuitions. David Weissman of CCNY believes this "may be the best use of the very difficult medium of philosophical dialogue" he has read, and that the book "deserves a wide audience". Kay Mathiesen of the University of Arizona compares the appeal of the book to that of Jostein Gaarder's bestselling novel about the history of philosophy, with the difference that "Sentience and Sensibility" develops original ideas in moral thought: "It's like a Sophie's World for grownups".

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Silliman (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) examines "multicriterial value incrementalism," his preferred moral theory, using a dialogue format. This work includes an epilogue about the importance of moral theory in general, an appendix (coauthored with David K. Johnson) that discusses the theory, and a "cast of concepts and characters" to help better understand the dialogue. The book's purpose is "to discover a conceptual structure that can reconcile and account for" an important set of moral intuitions. The views defended are in some ways similar to those defended by Peter Singer, although the author is unwilling to endorse utilitarianism because "morality as lived cannot be exhausted by reference to a single, simple criterion," and because "it seems to us that there is not a single overarching criterion for settling moral questions." Although written in dialogue format, this volume is intended for any "patient and educated person," rather than primarily for undergraduates. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. Choice Reviews Online, J.H. Spence Adrian College"

From the Back Cover

SENTIENCE AND SENSIBILITY is a dialogue that engages a number of issues in moral theory in a rigorous and original manner, while remaining accessible to all. It accomplishes this by means of the time-honored (if presently dormant) medium of philosophical dialogue, in which its characters actively challenge each other to clarify their ideas and defend their reasoning. In this manner the conversation develops and weighs some proposed solutions, in largely non-technical language, to a number of current and traditional moral problems (including the nature and origin of moral value, the moral status of animals, problems of partiality, and other vexed topics).

Everyday ethical matters and moral intuitions are pressing, whereas moral philosophy and theory can seem remote and intimidating. SENTIENCE AND SENSIBILITY proposes that these two should meet. The book's characters gently challenge each other to clarify their thinking and reasoning process, and in this rigorous yet personable manner explore traditional and fresh takes on morality. The conversation aims not only to discover thoughtful answers to such questions, but to do so while being respectful of both philosophical theory and ordinary moral intuitions.

Sideheads are placed throughout the margins of the book to help locate passages of interest, while the glossary or "Cast of Concepts & Characters" defines technical terms and offers brief overviews of the philosophers and theories that come up during the conversation. For the specialist or interested student the Appendix includes a formal essay, co-authored with David K. Johnson, clarifying and arguing for the theory of "muliticriterial value incrementalism" developed in the dialogue.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 346 pages
• Publisher: Parmenides Publishing; 1st edition (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930972075
• ISBN-13: 978-1930972070
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,538,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking examination of fundamental philosophical morality, March 5, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation about Moral Philosophy (Hardcover)

Written by philosophy professor Matthew R. Silliman, Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation About Moral Philosophy is a treatise written in the venerable format of philosophical dialogue between individuals, in which characters actively challenge each other to clarify their ideas and defend their reasoning. Eschewing excessive technical language to remain accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Sentience and Sensibility explores both traditional and fresh takes on weighty philosophical issues such as the nature and origin of moral values, the moral status of animals, problems of partiality, racism and moral perfectionism, and much more. A thought-provoking examination of fundamental philosophical morality quandaries affecting humankind from ancient times to the modern day.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Re-emergence of Good Philosophical Dialogue, December 4, 2006

By 

Dr. Paul Nnodim - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation about Moral Philosophy (Hardcover)

This is an incredibly, well-written dialogue. An excellent course book for introduction to philosophy, value theory, ethics, post-post modernism, etc. Accessible to the non specialist, but still of great interest to professionals in the field.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very well written and engaging presentation of flexible moral framework, November 19, 2009

By 

Mr G. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation about Moral Philosophy (Hardcover)

Very well written and engaging dialogs exploring a variety of moral problems. The book is quite small so there's no space to go into details and the book privileges breadth over depth, but the arguments for "value incrementalism" and the distinction between moral instruments, moral patients and moral agents are well presented.