Rent 9780534619367 | Ethics : Discovering Right and Wrong

Summary Table of Contents

Penned by one of contemporary philosophy�s most skilled and ardent philosophy teachers, ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG is a rigorous textual overview of the fundamental objectives and outlooks of ethical theory. Concise yet comprehensive, this text draws on many examples from classical and contemporary sources. Written in an engaging and conversational manner, DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG challenges students to develop their own moral theories and competently to reason through ethical problems for themselves.

P... MOREreface. A Word to the Student: Why Study Moral Philosophy? 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS ETHICS? Morality As Compared with Other Normative Subjects. Traits of Moral Principles. Domains of Ethical Assessment. Why Do We Need Morality? The Purposes of Morality. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 2. ETHICAL RELATIVISM: WHO'S TO JUDGE WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG? An Analysis of Relativism. Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism). Conventional Ethical Relativism (Conventionalism). A Critique of Ethical Relativism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 3. THE CASE FOR MORAL OBJECTIVISM. Natural Law. Moderate Objectivism. An Explanation of the Attraction of Ethical Relativism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 4. VALUE: THE QUEST FOR GOOD. What Types of Value Are There? What Things Are Good? Are Values Objective or Subjective? What is the Good Life? For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 5. EGOISM, SELF-INTEREST, AND ALTRUISM. An Overview of the Problem. Psychological Egoism. Ethical Egoism. A Critique of Ethical Egoism. Attempted Refutations of Egoism. Evolution and Altruism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 6. UTILITARIANISM. What is Utilitarianism? Two Types of Utilitarianism. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism. External Criticisms of Utilitarianism. Utilitarian Responses to Standard Objections. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 7. KANTIAN AND DEONTOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. Two Types of Deontological Systems. Kant's Rule-Deontological System. The Categorical Imperative. Kant's Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative. Kant's Ethics and Religion. A Reconciliation Project. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 8. VIRTUE-BASED ETHICAL SYSTEMS. The Aretaic Critique of Action-Based (Deontic) Ethical Systems. The Nature of Virtue Ethics. Types of Relationships between Virtue Ethics and Action Ethics. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 9. WHY SHOULD I BE MORAL? The Paradox of Morality and Self-Interest. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 10. RELIGION AND ETHICS. Does Morality Depend on Religion? Is Religious Ethics Essentially Different from Secular Ethics? Is Religion Irrelevant or Even Inimical to Morality? Does Religion Enhance the Moral Life? For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 11. THE FACT-VALUE PROBLEM: METAETHICS IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Nonnaturalism. Emotivism. Prescriptivism. The Renaissance of Naturalism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 12. MORAL REALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM. Mackie's Error Theory of Morality. Harman's Moral Nihilism. For Further Reading. A Concluding Reflection: Minimal Morality, Virtue Ethics, and the Development of Character. Appendix 1. An Analysis of the Modified Divine Command Theory. Appendix 2. How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper. Glossary. Index.

Preface

vii

A Word to the Student: Why Study Moral Philosophy?

1 Introduction: What Is Ethics?

(24)

Morality as Compared with Other Normative ... MORE

(4)

Traits of Moral Principles

(3)

Domains of Ethical Assessment

(3)

Why Do We Need Morality?

(6)

Conclusion

(2)

For Further Reflection

(3)

For Further Reading

(2)

2 Ethical Relativism: Who's to Judge What's Right and Wrong?

(18)

Introduction

(1)

An Analysis of Relativism

(2)

Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism)

(2)

Conventional Ethical Relativism (Conventionalism)

(4)

A Critique of Ethical Relativism

(3)

Conclusion

(1)

For Further Reflection

(2)

For Further Reading

(2)

3 The Case for Moral Objectivism

(17)

Natural Law

(6)

Moderate Objectivism

(5)

An Explanation of the Attraction of Ethical Relativism

(1)

Conclusion

(1)

For Further Reflection

(1)

For Further Reading

(1)

4 Value: The Quest for the Good

(19)

What Types of Value Are There?

(2)

What Things Are Good?

(3)

Are Values Objective or Subjective?

(2)

What Is the Relation of Value to Morality?

(3)

What Is the Good Life?

(4)

For Further Reflection

(1)

For Further Reading

(2)

5 Egoism, Self-Interest, and Altruism

(24)

An Overview of the Problem

(3)

Psychological Egoism

(5)

Ethical Egoism

(6)

Attempted Refutations of Egoism

(2)

Evolution and Altruism

(3)

Egoism and the Problem of Posterity

(1)

Conclusion

(1)

For Further Reflection

100

(1)

For Further Reading

101

(2)

6 Utilitarianism

103

(28)

What Is Utilitarianism?

106

(4)

Two Types of Utilitarianism

110

(3)

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism

113

(3)

External Criticisms of Utilitarianism

116

(3)

Utilitarian Responses to Standard Objections

119

(4)

The Problem of Posterity

123

(2)

Conclusion

125

(2)

For Further Reflection

127

(2)

For Further Reading

129

(2)

7 Kantian and Deontological Systems

131

(24)

Two Types of Deontological Systems

131

(4)

Kant's Rule-Deontological System

135

(2)

The Categorical Imperative

137

(8)

Kant's Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative

145

(3)

Kant's Ethics and Religion

148

(2)

Conclusion: A Reconciliation Project

150

(2)

For Further Reflection

152

(1)

For Further Reading

153

(2)

8 Virtue-Based Ethical Systems

155

(26)

The Aretaic Critique of Action-Based (Deontic) Ethical Systems

156

(4)

The Nature of Virtue Ethics

160

(5)

Types of Relationships Between Virtue Ethics and Action Ethics

165

(8)

Feminism and the Ethics of Care

173

(1)

Care and Particularism

174

(2)

Conclusion

176

(2)

For Further Reflection

178

(1)

For Further Reading'

179

(2)

9 Why Should I Be Moral?

181

(11)

The Paradox of Morality and Self-Interest

184

(5)

Conclusion

189

(1)

For Further Reflection

190

(1)

For Further Reading

191

(1)

10 Religion and Ethics

192

(16)

Does Morality Depend on Religion?

193

(4)

Are Religious Ethics Essentially Different from Secular Ethics?

197

(7)

Conclusion

204

(2)

For Further Reflection

206

(1)

For Further Reading

207

(1)

11 The Fact-Value Problem: Metaethics in the Twentieth Century

208

(27)

Nonnaturalism

210

(4)

Emotivism

214

(4)

Prescriptivism

218

(9)

The Renaissance of Naturalism

227

(3)

Conclusion

230

(2)

For Further Reflection

232

(1)

For Further Reading

233

(2)

12 Moral Realism and the Challenge of Skepticism

235

(18)

Mackie's Error Theory of Morality

238

(3)

Harman's Moral Nihilism

241

(5)

Conclusion

246

(2)

For Further Reflection

248

(1)

For Further Reading

248

(1)

A Concluding Reflection: Minimal Morality, Virtue Ethics, and the Development of Character

249

(4)

Appendix 1 An Analysis of the Modified Divine Command Theory

253

(6)

A Critique of the Modified Divine Command Theory

255

(4)

Appendix 2 How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper

259

(4)

Suggestions for Reading a Philosophy Text

260

(1)

Suggestions for Writing a Philosophy Paper

261

(2)

Glossary

263

(8)

Index

271

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Ethics : Discovering Right and Wrong

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