Henry John McCloskey (1925–2000) was an Australian moral philosopher and writer. McCloskey was Professor of Philosophy at La Trobe University in Melbourne.[1] After graduating from the University of Melbourne, he had appointments at the University of Western Australia and the University of Melbourne before taking up a chair at La Trobe. He was president of the Australasian Association of Philosophy in 1978.[1]
H. J. McCloskey | |
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Born | 1925 |
Died | 2000 |
Education | University of Melbourne |
Occupation | Philosopher |
McCloskey is known for his sheriff scenario, a thought experiment he used to criticize "extreme" utilitarianism, or what later came to be known as act utilitarianism. He was married to Mary Agnes McCloskey.[2] McCloskey was an atheist. He argued that the problem of evil provides conclusive evidence against theism. McCloskey was a noted critic of animal rights.[3][4] McCloskey stated that animals cannot have moral rights but they can be given legal rights.[5]
Selected publications
Articles
- Rights (The Philosophical Quarterly, 1965)
- The Right to Life (Mind, 1975)
- Moral Rights and Animals (Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, 1979)
Books
- Morality Without Religion (1961)
- The Problem of Liberalism (1965)
- Utilitarian and Retributive Punishment (1967)
- Meta-ethics and Normative Ethics (1969)
- The Political Philosophy of Liberalism (1973)
- John Stuart Mill: A Critical Study (1971)
- God and Evil (1974)
- Ecological Ethics and Politics (1983)