This carefully argued, lucid work defends a traditional conception of morality as a rational constraint on pursuing individual interest. Gauthier contends that rational cooperation is central to morality and he formulates a principle of agreement based upon a game-theoretic account of bargaining. Using the Prisoner's Dilemma, he argues for the rationality of complying with the principle from an initial noncoercive bargaining position in which one may better oneself provided that doing so does not worsen the condition of the person upon whom one acts. Gauthier concludes that commitment to rational cooperation not only assures fairness but also yields greater net utility than a policy of exclusive self-interest. Highly recommended for large philosophy collections.