Goodness and Advice

Goodness and Advice consists of philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson's Tanner Lectures on Human Values, delivered at Princeton University, along with responses from four other scholars. Thomson examines fundamental questions about what goodness means and how people determine right from wrong. The lectures focus on the relationship between facts and values, exploring whether goodness is objective or subjective. Thomson analyzes different theories of goodness and investigates how advice-giving relates to moral judgments. The responding scholars - Philip Fisher, Martha Nussbaum, Jerome Schneewind, and Barbara Herrnstein Smith - engage with Thomson's arguments from perspectives spanning philosophy, literature, and cultural theory. Their commentaries add layers of analysis to the central ethical questions. At its core, this book tackles essential problems in moral philosophy while remaining accessible to non-specialists. The interplay between Thomson's lectures and the scholarly responses creates a rich examination of how humans navigate moral decisions and give advice to others.

Readers appreciate Thomson's clear writing style and focused examination of moral philosophy through the framework of giving advice. Several reviewers noted the concise format at 187 pages makes complex ideas accessible to non-philosophers. Liked: - Concrete examples that ground abstract concepts - Strong counter-arguments that challenge conventional views - Inclusion of responses from other philosophers Disliked: - Some sections become too technical for general readers - A few readers wanted more practical applications - The focus is narrow and leaves some key questions unexplored Average Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) "Thomson cuts through philosophical jargon to address real moral questions about advice-giving" - Goodreads reviewer "The back-and-forth between Thomson and her critics helps illuminate different perspectives but sometimes feels repetitive" - Amazon reviewer The limited number of online reviews suggests this book reaches a niche academic audience rather than general readers.

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📚 Judith Jarvis Thomson was one of the most influential moral philosophers of the 20th century, particularly known for her famous "violinist" thought experiment in defense of abortion rights. 🎓 "Goodness and Advice" originated from Thomson's Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Princeton University, with responses from notable philosophers including Philip Fisher and Martha Nussbaum. 💭 The book challenges traditional concepts of "good," arguing that goodness is always relative to a kind (good for what?) rather than an absolute quality. 🤝 Thomson's work in this book builds on and critiques the ideas of philosopher G.E. Moore, who argued in "Principia Ethica" that goodness was a simple, indefinable property. 📖 The book's format—a lecture series with published responses—reflects a centuries-old philosophical tradition of public discourse and debate, dating back to ancient Greek dialectics.