Joseph Butler: Fifteen Sermons and other writings on ethics (British Moral Philosophers)

Description

Joseph Butler's Fifteen Sermons (1729) is a classic work of moral philosophy, which remains widely influential. The topics Butler discusses include the role of conscience in human nature, self-love and egoism, compassion, resentment and forgiveness, and love of our neighbour and of God. The text of the enlarged and corrected second edition is here presented together with a selection of Butler's other ethical writings: A Dissertation of the Nature of Virtue, A Sermon Preached Before the House of Lords, and relevant extracts from his correspondence with Samuel Clarke. While this is a readers' edition that avoids cluttering Butler's text with textual variants and intrusive footnotes, it comes complete with scholarly apparatus intended to aid the reader in studying Butlers work in depth. David McNaughton contributes a substantial historical and philosophical introduction that highlights the continuing importance of these works. In addition, there are extensive notes at the end of the volume, including significant textual variants, and full details of Butler's sources and references, as well as short summaries of Butler's predecessors, and a selective bibliography. This will be the definitive resource for anyone interested in Butler's moral philosophy. Cover Joseph Butler: Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel and other writings on ethics Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Introduction Life Moral Psychology Butler’s Theistic Background Conscience and Self-Love Benevolence and Egoism Benevolence and Virtue Compassion Butler on Self-Deception Self-Deception and ‘Internal’ Hypocrisy Resentment and Forgiveness The Love of God The Butler–Clarke Correspondence Notes Notes on the Text The Sermons and Other Writings Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling Italics and Quotations Endnotes Editor’s Notes Butler’s Predecessors Bibliography Fifteen Sermons Preached at the Rolls Chapel The Preface* Notes Sermon 1: Upon Human Nature* Notes Sermon 2: Upon Human Nature Notes Sermon 3: Upon Human Nature Note Sermon 4: Upon the Government of the Tongue Notes Sermon 5: Upon Compassion Notes Sermon 6: Upon Compassion*: Preached the first Sunday in Lent Notes Sermon 7: Upon the Character of Balaam*: Preached the Second Sunday after Easter Notes Sermon 8: Upon Resentment Notes Sermon 9: Upon Forgiveness of Injuries Notes Sermon 10: Upon Self-Deceit Notes Sermon 11: Upon the Love of Our Neighbour Notes Sermon 12: Upon the Love of Our Neighbour Notes Sermon 13: Upon the Love of God* Notes Sermon 14: Upon the Love of God Notes Sermon 15: Upon the Ignorance of Man Notes A Dissertation of the Nature of Virtue Notes A Sermon Preached Before the House of Lords: in the Abbey Church of Westminster, on Friday, January 30, 1740-41. Being the ... Notes A Selection from the Correspondence between Joseph Butler and Samuel Clarke Editor’s Notes Butler’s Predecessors Stoicism Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) Anthony Ashley Cooper, Third Earl of Shaftesbury (1671–1713) Samuel Clarke (1675–1729) William Wollaston (1659–1724) Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) Notes Bibliography Works by Butler Published during his Lifetime Modern Editions of Butler’s Works Biographical Works Works by Butler’s Predecessors and Contemporaries Books about Butler’s Moral Philosophy Articles and Chapters about Butler Internet Entries about Butler Other Works Cited Index