The Value Gap

The Value Gap

In The Value Gap , Toni Rønnow-Rasmussen addresses the distinction between what is finally good and what is finally good-for, two value notions that are central to ethics and practical deliberation. The first part of the book argues against views that claim that one of these notions is either faulty, or at best conceptually dependent on the other notion. Whereas these two views disagree on whether it is good or good-for that is the flawed or dependent concept, it is argued, as against both approaches, that goodness and goodness-for are independent value notions that cannot be fully understood in terms of one another. The second part provides an analysis of good and good-for in terms of a fitting-attitude analysis. By elaborating a more nuanced understanding of the key elements of this analysis--reasons and pro-attitudes--Rønnow-Rasmussen challenges the widespread idea that there are no genuine practical and moral dilemmas. The result is that the gap between favouring for a reason what is good and favouring for a reason what is good for someone appears insurmountable. "This volume provides an engaging discussion of the distinction between relational and nonrelational goods, that is, being good for a subject rather than being good simpliciter." -- W. Simkulet, CHOICE "Ronnow-Rasmussen's Value Gap is a sustained argument for Dualism, the idea that there are two coherent value notions-final goodness, final goodness for-that cannot be understood in terms of each other. Along the way, Ronnow-Rasmussen touches on many of the central issues of contemporary value theory. The book is full of ideas, arguments, and distinctions, and rewards careful study. It is lively and interesting, and recommended to those working in these fields." -- Timothy Perrine, Journal of Moral Philosophy "The book has many virtues. It is full of interesting puzzles and arguments about the distinction between good and good-for, as well as about the fitting attitude account of value, and will be of interest to anyone working on either topic. The book effectively continues his previous book, Personal Value (2011), and like that book, has an exploratory style which is endearingly humble, and which enables Rønnow-Rasmussen to explore the issues in a fair-minded way." -- Alex Gregory, UtilitasUtilitas Toni Rønnow-Rasmussen, Lund University Toni Rønnow-Rasmussen is a Professor and Acting Chair in Practical Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy, Lund University. In 2015, he was elected member of Academia Europea. He is the author of Personal Value (OUP, 2011), and has more recently published articles on moral progress, fitting-attitude analysis, intrinsic and extrinsic value, pro- and contra-attitudes, reasons, and on the metaethical view that he calls on-conditionalism.