Troitsky, K. E. Thoughts On the Book «Is Selfishness Amoral?»

Abstract: The article contains the review of the last book written by German authors in the sphere of ethics, Helga E. Hörz and Herbert Hörz. This book presents an attempt to describe the main points and meanings of possible «neo-modernism ethics’ as the theory which could bring back the values and optimistic expectations of Enlightenment and keep in mind Post-Modernism critical remarks. The very first preposition lying in the basis of the new ethics established by the authors is a new look at the roles of selfishness and altruism for moral philosophy. The authors of the book do not consider meta-ethical or solely practical issues. Withdrawing from everyday problems the modern world is «drown» in, Helga and Herbert seek the grounds that would help to solve crisis situations and protect from the threatening anti-humanistic development of civilization. The article contains the review of the book but besides the summary and interpretation the book also contains a number of critical remarks and an attempt to view the book as one whole. The book is in German and isn’t going to be translated in the nearest future. The book was published in 2013 and devoted to topical modern issues based on the consideration and analysis of numerous recent achievements in the sphere of ethics.

Keywords: