Self-Defense Necessity and Punishment

This book offers a philosophical analysis of the moral and legal justifications for the use of force. While the book focuses on the ethics self-defense it also explores its relation to lesser evil justifications public authority the justification of punishment and the ethics of war. Steinhoffâs account of the moral use of force covers a wide range of topics including the nature of justification in general the precise elements of different justifications the logic of claim- and liberty-rights and of rights forfeiture the value of human life and its limits and the principles of reciprocity and precaution. While the authorâs analysis is primarily philosophical it is informed by a metaethical stance that also places heavy emphasis on existing law and legal scholarship. In doing so the book appeals to widely shared moral intuitions precepts and concepts grounded in criminal law. Self-Defense Necessity and Punishment offers the most comprehensive and systematic account of the ethics of self-defense. It will be of interest to scholars and graduate students working in applied ethics and moral philosophy philosophy of law and political philosophy. . Language: English