This thesis examines the relationship between the moral rules that apply to all persons by virtue of their humanity (‘universal moral rules’) and the rules they must follow to continue serving in particular (often socially important) roles (‘role responsibilities’). It provides a general framework for what to do if universal moral rules and role responsibilities conflict, focusing particularly on the role of lawyer and similarly state-involving professions. It argues that ideally constituted roles will not create duties to infringe universal moral rules and defends the general priority of universal moral rules when a role’s non-ideal constitution leads to conflict. It then offers a limited exception to the general priority of universal moral rules that applies when a role can only be performed if one violates a universal moral rule and the role is necessary for a well-developed society to maintain a certain level of functioning, but suggests one ought to regret the bad effects of acting under that exception.
Subject (authority = RUETD)
Topic
Philosophy
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = RULIB)
ETD
Identifier
ETD_4883
PhysicalDescription
Form (authority = gmd)
electronic resource
InternetMediaType
application/pdf
InternetMediaType
text/xml
Extent
iv, 64 p.
Note (type = degree)
M.A.
Note (type = bibliography)
Includes bibliographical references
Note (type = statement of responsibility)
by Michael Da Silva
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Legal ethics
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Ethics
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = local)
rucore19991600001
Location
PhysicalLocation (authority = marcorg); (displayLabel = Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
AssociatedObject
Type
License
Name
Author Agreement License
Detail
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.