This posthumous publication attempts to answer the question of what moral code is the most
reasonable. Philosophers often turn to consequentialism or deontological ethics to address this
issue. As the author points out each has valid arguments but each is unable to get the other
side to agree. To rectify this he proposes a third way. Inside readers will discover a theory
that tries to do justice to both sides. The author first details consequentialism and
deontological ethics. He also explains their fundamental conflict. One holds the view that you
should do what has the best consequences. The other believes that there are actions which are
wrong to do even if they have the best consequences. Next the volume considers various ways to
solve this conflict. Would rejecting one theory work? Or is it possible to somehow reconcile
them. The author shows why these solutions fail. He then goes on to present his own. The
resulting contractual theory brings together the two opposing ethical convictions. It proposes
that what is right and wrong depends on what norms people would agree to. Throughout coverage
explores the psychological sociological and historical background of the moral theories
discussed. The reason is that moral theories are embedded in social and psychological contexts.
They are better understood when the contexts are explicit. This key feature distinguishes the
volume from other works in moral philosophy. At the time of his death in July 2011 Jan
Österberg was close to completing this manuscript. It was taken up and fully completed by Erik
Carlson and Ryszard Sliwinski both of Uppsala University.
