Firmly established as the standard text for undergraduate courses in ethics, this concise, lively book combines clear explanations of the main theories of ethics with discussions of interesting examples. Topics covered include famine relief, homosexuality, and the treatment of animals. The text's versatility allows it to be widely used not only in ethical theory courses, but also in applied ethics courses of all kinds.

Preface
About the Fourth Edition
CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS MORALITY?
The Problem of Definition
First Example: Baby Theresa
Second Example: Jodie and Mary
Third Example: Tracy Latimer
Reason and Impartiality
The Minimum Conception of Morality
CHAPTER 2: THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM
How Different Societies Have Different Moral Codes
Cultural Relativism
The Cultural Differences Argument
The Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously
Why There is Less Disagreement than it Seems
How All Cultures Have Some Values in Common
Judging a Cultural Practice to be Undesirable
What Can be Learned from Cultural Relativism
CHAPTER 3: SUBJECTIVISM IN ETHICS
The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism
The Evolution of the Theory
The First Stage: Simple Subjectivism
The Second Stage: Emotivism
Are There Any Moral Facts?
Are There Proofs in Ethics?
The Question of Homosexuality
CHAPTER 4: DOES MORALITY DEPEND ON RELIGION?
The Presumed Connection Between Morality and Religion
The Divine Command Theory
The Theory of Natural Law
Religion and Particular Moral Issues
CHAPTER 5: PSYCHOLOLOGICAL EGOISM
Is Unselfishness Possible?
The Strategy of Reinterpreting Motives
Two Arguments in Favor of Psychological Egoism
Clearing Away Some Confusions
The Deepest Error in Psychological Egoism
CHAPTER 6: ETHICAL EGOISM
Is There a Duty to Help Starving People?
Three Arguments in Favor of Ethical Egoism
Three Arguments Against Ethical Egoism
CHAPTER 7: THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH
The Revolution in Ethics
First Example: Euthanasia
Second Example: Nonhuman Animals
CHAPTER 8: THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM
The Classical Version of the Theory
Is Happiness the Only Thing That Matters?
Are Consequences All That Matter?
Should We be Equally Concerned for Everyone?
The Defense of Utilitarianism
CHAPTER 9: ARE THERE ANY ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES?
Harry Truman and Elizabeth Anscombe
The Categorical Imperative
Absolute Rules and the Duty Not to Lie
Conflicts Between Rules
Another Look at Kant's Basic Idea
CHAPTER 10: KANT AND RESPECT FOR PERSONS
The Idea of Human Dignity
Retribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment
Kant's Retributivism
CHAPTER 11: THE IDEA OF A SOCIAL CONTRACT
Hobbes's Argument
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory of Morals
The Problem of Civil Disobedience
CHAPTER 12: FEMINISM AND THE ETHICS OF CARE
Do Women and Men Think Differently About Ethics?
Implications for Moral Judgment
Implications for Ethical Theory
CHAPTER 13: THE ETHICS OF VIRTUE
The Ethics of Virtue and the Ethics of Right Action
The Virtues
Some Advantages of Virtue Ethics
The Problem of Incompleteness
CHAPTER 14: WHAT WOULD A SATISFACTORY MORAL THEORY BE LIKE?
Morality Without Hubris
Treating People as They Deserve and Other Motives
Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism
The Moral Community
Justice and Fairness
Conclusion
Suggestions for Further Reading
Notes on Sources
Index

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Elements of Moral Philosophy with Dictionary of Philosophical Terms

The Elements of Moral Philosophy with Dictionary of Philosophical Terms

9780072825749

007282574X

Summary

Table of Contents

About the Fourth Edition

CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS MORALITY?

The Problem of Definition

First Example: Baby Theresa

Second Example: Jodie and Mary

Third Example: Tracy Latimer

Reason and Impartiality

The Minimum Conception of Morality

CHAPTER 2: THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM

How Different Societies Have Different Moral Codes

Cultural Relativism

The Cultural Differences Argument

The Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously

Why There is Less Disagreement than it Seems

How All Cultures Have Some Values in Common

Judging a Cultural Practice to be Undesirable

What Can be Learned from Cultural Relativism

CHAPTER 3: SUBJECTIVISM IN ETHICS

The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism

The Evolution of the Theory

The First Stage: Simple Subjectivism

The Second Stage: Emotivism

Are There Any Moral Facts?

Are There Proofs in Ethics?

The Question of Homosexuality

CHAPTER 4: DOES MORALITY DEPEND ON RELIGION?

The Presumed Connection Between Morality and Religion

The Divine Command Theory

The Theory of Natural Law

Religion and Particular Moral Issues

CHAPTER 5: PSYCHOLOLOGICAL EGOISM

Is Unselfishness Possible?

The Strategy of Reinterpreting Motives

Two Arguments in Favor of Psychological Egoism

Clearing Away Some Confusions

The Deepest Error in Psychological Egoism

CHAPTER 6: ETHICAL EGOISM

Is There a Duty to Help Starving People?

Three Arguments in Favor of Ethical Egoism

Three Arguments Against Ethical Egoism

CHAPTER 7: THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH

The Revolution in Ethics

First Example: Euthanasia

Second Example: Nonhuman Animals

CHAPTER 8: THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM

The Classical Version of the Theory

Is Happiness the Only Thing That Matters?

Are Consequences All That Matter?

Should We be Equally Concerned for Everyone?

The Defense of Utilitarianism

CHAPTER 9: ARE THERE ANY ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES?

Harry Truman and Elizabeth Anscombe

The Categorical Imperative

Absolute Rules and the Duty Not to Lie

Conflicts Between Rules

Another Look at Kant's Basic Idea

CHAPTER 10: KANT AND RESPECT FOR PERSONS

The Idea of Human Dignity

Retribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment

Kant's Retributivism

CHAPTER 11: THE IDEA OF A SOCIAL CONTRACT

Hobbes's Argument

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory of Morals

The Problem of Civil Disobedience

CHAPTER 12: FEMINISM AND THE ETHICS OF CARE

Do Women and Men Think Differently About Ethics?

Implications for Moral Judgment

Implications for Ethical Theory

CHAPTER 13: THE ETHICS OF VIRTUE

The Ethics of Virtue and the Ethics of Right Action

The Virtues

Some Advantages of Virtue Ethics