Skip to main content

Adaptation, Autonomy, and Authority

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics ((SAPERE,volume 10))

Abstract

Adaptation is a fact of life. If I walk down the street and fall down a manhole, I’m likely to keep a lookout for open manholes in the future. In this case, I adapt to my circumstances; I take a more cautious approach than I might otherwise have. This is true of all forms of life, and plausibly helps to explain the fact that there is, in fact, life at all.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arpaly, N.: Unprincipled Virtue. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, R.: A Theory of the Good and the Right. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brink, D.: The Significance of Desire. In: Shafer-Landau, R. (ed.) Oxford Studies in Metaethics, vol. 3, pp. 24–25. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, D.W.: Colburn on Covert Influences. Utilitas 23, 451–457 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, D.W.: In Defense of Adaptive Preferences. Philos Stud. 142, 307–324 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colburn, C.: Autonomy and Adaptive Preferences. Utilitas 23, 64–70 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorsey, D.: The Basic Minimum: A Welfarist Approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2012a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorsey, D.: Subjectivism without Desire. Philos Rev. 121, 407–442 (2012b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorsey, D.: Preferences, Welfare, and the Status-quo Bias. Aust. J. Philos 88, 535–554 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elster, J.: Sour Grapes: Utilitarianism and the Genesis of Wants. In: Sen, A., Williams, B. (eds.) Utilitarianism and Beyond, pp. 226–230. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankfurt, H.: The Importance of What We Care About. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J.: Welfare, Autonomy, and the Horizon Problem. Utilitas 20, 165–167 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraut, R.: Desire and the Human Good. P. Addr. Amer. Philos Assoc. 68, 41–42 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, D.: Dispositional Theories of Value. In: Lewis, D. (ed.) Papers in Ethics and Social Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M.: Women and Human Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quong, J.: Liberalism without Perfection. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2010)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Railton, P.: Facts and Values. In: Railton, P. (ed.) Facts, Values, and Norms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawls, J.: Political Liberalism. Columbia University Press, New York (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawls, J.: A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A.: On Ethics and Economics. Blackwell, Oxford (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sher, G.: Beyond Neutrality: Perfectionism and Politics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1997)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sobel, D.: Full Information Theories of Well-Being. Ethics 104, 784–810 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner, L.W.: Welfare, Happiness, and Ethics. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dale Dorsey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Dorsey, D. (2013). Adaptation, Autonomy, and Authority. In: Räikkä, J., Varelius, J. (eds) Adaptation and Autonomy: Adaptive Preferences in Enhancing and Ending Life. Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics, vol 10. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38376-2_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics