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"""Masek convincingly argues that double effect captures the venerable Socratic insight that an agent uniquely corrupts his or her character in deliberately harmful acts that, thereby, differ from simply harmful acts. Responding to the common criticism of double effect—that it confuses act- with agent-assessment—Masek offers a comprehensive insightful argument as to how and why agent and act-evaluation form a unity that moralists must not put asunder. A must-read contribution for devotees of the double effect debate that locates the (at times seemingly exotic) account in the daily Socratic search to live the good life."" —T. A. Cavanaugh, University of San Francisco “Lawrence Masek argues for a view of intention that is agent-centered all around both in its account of what is intended and what is a side effect, and in its account of why intention matters. Masek deals with a number of controversial cases, such as craniotomy, salpingotomy, and the Phoenix abortion case, which illustrate the different claims made by an agent-centered approach from other approaches, and defends those claims against various objections.” —Christopher Tollefsen, author of Lying and Christian Ethics “Masek examines the common philosophical puzzles used to explain double effect, and he proposes what he calls an ‘agent based’ formulation of [the principle of double effect]. He argues that one has to think about how the action will form an agent in order to assess its morality. Lucid and well argued, this is a book for those interested in ethics or moral philosophy.” —Choice ""[This book] presents an agent-based version of the Principle of Double Effect (PDE) that arose from the author’s engagement with MacIntyre’s After Virtue, wrestling to pinpoint the disagreement between the critics and advocates of double effect and understanding why PDE generally appeals more to Catholic philosophers."" —Catholic Library World"

Lawrence Masek argues for a view of intention that is agent-centered all around: both in its account of what is intended and what is a side effect, and in its account of why intention matters. Masek deals with a number of controversial cases, such as craniotomy, salpingotomy, and the Phoenix abortion case, which illustrate the different claims made by an agent-centered approach from other approaches, and defends those claims against various objections. --Christopher Tollefsen, author of Lying and Christian Ethics

Masek examines the common philosophical puzzles used to explain double effect, and he proposes what he calls an 'agent based' formulation of [the principle of double effect]. He argues that one has to think about how the action will form an agent in order to assess its morality. Lucid and well argued, this is a book for those interested in ethics or moral philosophy. -- <i>Choice</i> [This book] presents an agent-based version of the Principle of Double Effect (PDE) that arose from the author's engagement with MacIntyre's After Virtue, wrestling to pinpoint the disagreement between the critics and advocates of double effect and understanding why PDE generally appeals more to Catholic philosophers. -- <i>Catholic Library World</i> Lawrence Masek argues for a view of intention that is agent-centered all around: both in its account of what is intended and what is a side effect, and in its account of why intention matters. Masek deals with a number of controversial cases, such as craniotomy, salpingotomy, and the Phoenix abortion case, which illustrate the different claims made by an agent-centered approach from other approaches, and defends those claims against various objections. -- Christopher Tollefsen, author of <i>Lying and Christian Ethics</i> Masek convincingly argues that double effect captures the venerable Socratic insight that an agent uniquely corrupts his or her character in deliberately harmful acts that, thereby, differ from simply harmful acts. Responding to the common criticism of double effect-that it confuses act- with agent-assessment-Masek offers a comprehensive insightful argument as to how and why agent and act-evaluation form a unity that moralists must not put asunder. A must-read contribution for devotees of the double effect debate that locates the (at times seemingly exotic) account in the daily Socratic search to live the good life. -- T. A. Cavanaugh, University of San Francisco

Masek convincingly argues that double effect captures the venerable Socratic insight that an agent uniquely corrupts his or her character in deliberately harmful acts that, thereby, differ from simply harmful acts. Responding to the common criticism of double effect--that it confuses act- with agent-assessment--Masek offers a comprehensive insightful argument as to how and why agent and act-evaluation form a unity that moralists must not put asunder. A must-read contribution for devotees of the double effect debate that locates the (at times seemingly exotic) account in the daily Socratic search to live the good life. --T. A. Cavanaugh, University of San Francisco Lawrence Masek argues for a view of intention that is agent-centered all around: both in its account of what is intended and what is a side effect, and in its account of why intention matters. Masek deals with a number of controversial cases, such as craniotomy, salpingotomy, and the Phoenix abortion case, which illustrate the different claims made by an agent-centered approach from other approaches, and defends those claims against various objections. --Christopher Tollefsen, author of Lying and Christian Ethics

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Lawrence Masek is professor of philosophy at Ohio Dominican University.

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