Common Morality

Presents an introduction to what the author calls common morality, the moral system that most thoughtful people implicitly use when making everyday, commonsense moral decisions and judgments. This book offers a version of Gert's influential theory of morality, as well as a look at the moral foundations of our everyday actions. Moral problems do not always come in the form of great social controversies. More often, the moral decisions we make are made quietly, constantly, and within the context of everyday activities and quotidian dilemmas. Indeed, these smaller decisions are based on a moral foundation that few of us ever stop to think about but which guides our every action. Here distinguished philosopher Bernard Gert presents a clear and concise introduction to what he calls common morality, the moral system that most thoughtful people implicitly use when making everyday, commonsense moral decisions and judgments. Common Morality is useful in that -- while not resolving every disagreement on controversial issues it is able to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable answers to moral problems. The distillation of over 40 years' of scholarship, this book is the most accessible version of Gert's influential theory of morality as well as an eye-opening look at the moral foundations of our everyday actions.