Ethics As Scales of Forms

"This book is not about Collingwood, nor about his approach to ethics; neither is it a critique of Collingwood's treatment of the idea of a scale of forms per se. Rather, it is an application of the idea of scale of forms analysis to ethics, intended as a way of introducing unity into what otherwise is typically seen as comprising either an unrelated group of disparate theories, or a mutually exclusive set of theories. Avoiding the tendency to dichotomise our moral thinking and seeing...
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"This book is not about Collingwood, nor about his approach to ethics; neither is it a critique of Collingwood's treatment of the idea of a scale of forms per se. Rather, it is an application of the idea of scale of forms analysis to ethics, intended as a way of introducing unity into what otherwise is typically seen as comprising either an unrelated group of disparate theories, or a mutually exclusive set of theories. Avoiding the tendency to dichotomise our moral thinking and seeing ethical theories as competing but compatible, as characterised by more or less completeness, more or less adequacy, moves us away from being forced into simple minded (because it ignores the real value of each theory) choices between apparently rival ethical theories. There is no reason why we should be forced into these choices, and Richard Allen shows how it is possible to salvage the virtues of different theories whilst avoiding shallow compromise. On this basis theories can be drawn together, their merits explored and their affinities developed and this can lead to a fruitful approach to the analysis of ethical theories and concepts. "This is an interesting and rewarding book which I recommend to all who appreciate subtle ethical reasoning and dislike the false choices and disjunctions characteristic of much contemporary ethical theory." James Connelly, University of Hull