New Directions in Development Ethics

Essays in Honor of Denis Goulet

Edited by Charles K. Wilber and Amitava Krishna Dutt
Foreword by Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.

Development ethics is a growing discipline that deals both academically and practically with the moral assessment of the ends, means, and processes of development. The essays in this collection honor and build on the pioneering work of Denis Goulet (1931–2006), arguably the founding father of development ethics. This book offers a coherent, systematic examination of new directions in the field and features contributions from some of the leading scholars in development ethics and economic development.

The introduction provides a brief history of Goulet’s life and work, as well as the genesis of development economics and development ethics. The essays in New Directions in Development Ethics are organized in three parts: the nature of development ethics in light of philosophical and religious traditions; applications of development ethics to economic analysis and growth, technological change, violent conflict, and globalization; and the practice of development ethics.

CHARLES K. WILBER is emeritus professor of economics and Fellow of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Economics, Ethics and Public Policy (1998).

AMITAVA KRISHNA DUTT is professor of economics and policy studies and Fellow of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Helen Kellogg Institute of International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He is co-editor of Crossing the Mainstream: Ethical and Methodological Issues in Economics, also published by the University of Notre Dame Press.

CONTRIBUTORS: R. Scott Appleby, Carl J. Bindenagel, Luis Camacho, Adela Cortina, David A. Crocker, Nigel Dower, Jay Drydyk, Amitava Krishna Dutt, Des Gasper, Sheldon Gellar, Roland Hoksbergen, Javier Ma Iguiniz Echeverria, Kenneth P. Jameson, Katherine Marshall, Jaime Ros, Chloe Schwenke, Asuncion Lera St. Clair, James P. Sterba, Charles K. Wilber, Andrew Yuengert

ADVANCE PRAISE: “This book is a fitting tribute to the father of modern development ethics, Denis A. Goulet. Contrary to other festschrifts honoring scholars, each chapter carefully builds on a different aspect of Goulet’s work including religion, participation, equality, technology, poverty, vulnerability, and development strategy. The result is a coherent and methodical volume written by leading scholars, admirers, and friends that brings us a step closer to the kind of ‘hands on’ philosophy envisaged by Goulet that simultaneously embraces the ethics and practice of development.” — David A. Clark, University of Manchester