The plausibility of its associated moral psychology is not, of course, the only dimension on which an ethical theory may be evaluated; equally important are evaluative or normative questions having to do with how well a theory fares when compared to important convictions about such things as justice, fairness, and the good life.
This approach has rightly led to important convictions.
The Carbon XPRIZE is built on two important convictions: (1) solutions to climate change are out there, and (2) we need to inspire thousands of innovators to begin addressing this challenge.
The most important recent conviction was Mike Clemente, East Side waterfront boss.
But in an interview with the Guardian, Stern said that while they remained important, the conviction rate was "not the be all and end all".
That conduct now jeopardizes important criminal convictions and has resulted in a judge's call for an independent investigation of the office.
That experience has led to some important German convictions: that American leadership under Obama is essential; that no deal will work without a regional security arrangement that only the United States can underwrite and that must (at least tacitly) acknowledge the Israeli bomb; and that new avenues have to be found to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, because only he counts.
"Fundamental fairness and justice in our criminal justice system are far more important than the conviction and sentence of any one individual".
Most important, after the conviction of Peter Hains, the lovers of married women, after more than 50 years without protection, could once again place their confidence in the rule of law.
Even more important than religious conviction, Regnerus argues, is how "embedded" a teen-ager is in a network of friends, family, and institutions that reinforce his or her goal of delaying sex, and that offer a plausible alternative to America's sexed-up consumer culture.
