Value Theory

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What is it for a car, a piece of art or a person to be good, bad or better than another In this first book-length introduction to value theory, Francesco Orsi explores the nature of evaluative concepts used in everyday thinking and speech and in contemporary philosophical discourse. The various dimensions, structures and connections that value concepts express are interrogated with clarity and incision. Orsi provides a systematic survey of both classic texts including Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Moore and Ross and an array of contemporary theorists. The reader is guided through the moral maze of value theory with everyday examples and thought experiments. Rare stamps, Napoleon's hat, evil demons, and Kant's good will are all considered in order to probe our intuitions, question our own and philosophers' assumptions about value, and, ultimately, understand better what we want to say when we talk about value.

Reviews

[Orsi] manages to be both clear and accessible as he navigates the many distinctions and relations that have come to populate the field. ... [A] welcome addition to the literature and a useful resource. * Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *
Orsi provides a detailed but succinct exploration of every axis of value theory, with special attention to the fitting attitude theory. Clearly written and tightly argued, this book is a thorough guide to the shape of value that also advances current debates in creative and engaging ways. * Scott A. Davison, Professor of Philosophy and Chair, Department of History, Philosophy, Religion and Legal Studies, Morehead State University, USA *
Francesco Orsis Value Theory is the first thorough overview of all the main distinctions and debates in the rich philosophical tradition of investigating the evaluative realm. It is also historically informed, clear, balanced, and well-argued overall. * Dr Jussi Suikkanen, Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, University of Birmingham, UK *
Orsi's book lucidly explores core conceptual questions at the very fore of value theory. The focus is on the much-discussed fitting-attitude analysis of value, and Orsi serves as an excellent and attentive guide, as the reader explores the advantages as well as the more serious rocks and shoals inherent in this approach. Not only is the book a great introduction to this pattern of analysis, it provides a distinguished contribution to contemporary value theory. * Toni Rnnow-Rasmussen, Professor of Practical Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Lund University, Sweden *

Author Bio

Francesco Orsi is Senior Research Fellow in Practical Philosophy at the University of Tartu, Estonia.