Right actions and good persons - Marjaana Kopperi

This book deals with the contemporary debate between the 'agent-centred' and 'act-centred' moral theories. - - In this debate, the dominant 'modernist' forms of moral theories have particularly been criticized not only for their action-guiding nature but also for their universalistic pretensions. Accordingly, the alternatives proposed tend to emphasise the notion of the good life in moral theory and the contextual basis of all ethical judgments. - - Marjaana Kopperi offers a critical assessment of the arguments presented in support of these alternative views. She discusses both forms of this criticism and argues that the promoters of these views fail to provide an adequate alternative to the 'modernist' moral theories. She also defends the modernist approach and claims that when properly understood and clearly defined it can still offer a justifiable account of morality.