The importance of teaching ethics in higher education has never been greater. In our rapidly changing, globally expanding world, key challenges and problems revolve around fundamental issues in ethics. Leadership in such a world demands courage, commitment, character and good ethical reasoning skills to address these challenges head on. With the eleventh edition of Ethics: Theory and Practice I wish to acknowledge the significant contributions made by all involved in the teaching of ethics courses who engage students with the core issues of our time.

Ethics: Theory and Practice is utilized by many professors in their ethics courses and I invite you to review the eleventh edition. The book is divided into eight chapters of ethical theory balanced by eight chapters of applied ethics. It also includes eight appendices. The text is comprehensive, and each chapter features a chapter summary, many exercises with suggestions for paper topics and ethics projects, and a list of discussion questions and an ethics problem. In addition, each chapter on applied ethics includes many case studies. Plus at the text of the text, a substantial list of supplementary readings is included along with a complete glossary of ethical terms. The eleventh edition is also accompanied by www.MyThinkingLab, an online website that houses an eBook version of the print text, case studies, videos, additional readings, quizzes and more!

I would like to thank the many professors who use Ethics: Theory and Practice and the new reviewers of this textbook. Your comments and constructive recommendations are always welcome and will help make future editions better. I’m also interested in hearing about the innovative ways that you use the book in your classes, successful pedagogical techniques, and student reactions. Feel free to email me at Kraseman@cod.edu.

I wish you continued success in your teaching of ethics courses.

Best Regards,

Keith W. Krasemann

College of DuPage

Contents

Preface  

Chapter 1   The Nature of Morality

Chapter 2  Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories of Morality
Chapter 3   Nonconsequentialist (Deontological) Theories of Morality
Chapter 4   Virtue Ethics
Chapter 5   Absolutism Versus Relativism
Chapter 6   Freedom Versus Determinism
Chapter 7   Reward and Punishment

Chapter 8   Setting Up a Moral System: Basic Assumptions and Basic Principles    

Chapter 9   The Taking of Human Life    

Chapter 10   Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing   

Chapter 11   Abortion   

Chapter 12   Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing   

Chapter 13   Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality   

Chapter 14   Bioethics—Ethical Issues in Medicine   

Chapter 15   Business and Media Ethics     

Chapter 16   Environmental Ethics  

Appendixes 

Introduction  

Appendix 1: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of the Taking of Human Life
Appendix 2: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing  
Appendix 3: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Abortion  
Appendix 4: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing  
Appendix 5: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Human Sexuality 

Appendix 6: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Medicine (Bioethics) 

Appendix 7: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Business (Business and Media Ethics) 

Appendix 8: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Environmental Ethics  

Supplementary Reading  

Glossary  

Index  

COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Contents

Preface  

Chapter 1   The Nature of Morality

    Objectives
    What is Philosophy and Ethics’ Relationship to It?
    Definition of Key Terms
    Approaches to the Study of Morality
    Morality and Its Applications
    Where Does Morality Come From?
    Customary or Traditional and Reflective Morality
    Morality, Law, and Religion
    Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
    Why Should Human Beings Be Moral?
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem  
    Notes

Chapter 2  Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories of Morality
    Objectives
    Psychological Egoism
    Ethical Egoism
    Utilitarianism
    Difficulty with Consequentialist Theories in General
    Care Ethics
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem 

    Notes

Chapter 3   Nonconsequentialist (Deontological) Theories of Morality
    Objectives
    Act Nonconsequentialist Theories
    Rule Nonconsequentialist Theories
    General Criticisms of Nonconsequentialist Theories
    Conclusions
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem 

    Notes

Chapter 4   Virtue Ethics
    Objectives
    Definition of Terms
    Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics
    Confucian Moral Self-Cultivation
    Confucian Role Ethics
    Contemporary Analysis of Virtue Ethics
    Who Is the Ideal Virtuous Person?
    Vice and Virtue
    Conclusions
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions

    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem

    Notes

Chapter 5   Absolutism Versus Relativism
    Objectives
    The Meanings of Absolute
    The Meaning of Relative
    Cultural Relativism and Cultural Absolutism
    Propositions and Truth
    Conclusion
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem

    Notes

Chapter 6   Freedom Versus Determinism
    Objectives
    The Meaning of Determinism
    Types and Theories of Determinism
    Fatalism and Hard and Soft Determinism
    Indeterminism
    Criticisms of Hard Determinism and Arguments for Freedom
    Conclusion: Soft Determinism
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem

    Notes

Chapter 7   Reward and Punishment
    Objectives
    Definition of Key Terms
    Reward and Punishment in Relationship to Justice
    Elements of Justice
    Reward
    Theories of How to Reward
    John Rawls and His Theory of Justice
    Punishment
    Theories of Punishment
    Is a Synthesis Possible?
    Human Rights
    Chapter Summary
    Exercises for Review
    Discussion Questions
    Suggested Readings
    Ethics Problem 

    Notes

Chapter 8   Setting Up a Moral System: Basic Assumptions and Basic Principles  

    Objectives  

    Conflicting General Moral Issues  

    Basic Assumptions  

    Basic Principles, Individual Freedom, and Their Justification  

    Priority of the Basic Principles  

    A General Way of Determining Priority—Two Categories  

    How the System of Humanitarian Ethics Works  

    Conclusion  

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Discussion Questions 

    Suggested Readings    

    Notes

Chapter 9   The Taking of Human Life  

    Objectives  

    The Taking of Human Life  

    Suicide  

    Defense of the Innocent (The Self Included)  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    War  

    Terrorism  

    Cases for Study and Discussion 

    Capital Punishment  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary 

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on the Taking of Human Life  

    Suicide  

    Defense of the Innocent  

    War and Terrorism  

    Capital Punishment  

    Reader Reactions  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes

Chapter 10   Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing  

    Objectives  

    Definition of Terms  

    Current Legal Status of Mercy Death and Mercy Killing  

    Allowing Someone to Die  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Mercy Death  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Mercy Killing  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 11   Abortion  

    Objectives  

    Introduction to the Abortion Issue  

    When Does Human Life Begin?  

    Arguments Against Abortion  

    Arguments For Abortion  

    The More Moderate Positions on Abortion  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary 

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Abortion  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 12   Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing  

    Objectives 

    Definition of Key Terms  

    Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views 

    Lying  

    Cases for Study and Discussion 

    Cheating  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Breaking Promises  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Stealing  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 13   Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality  

    Objectives  

    Major Aspects of Human Sexuality  

    The Meaning and Purposes of Human Sexuality  

    Premarital Sex  

    Sex in Marriage-Type Relationships (Including Nonlegal)  

    Masturbation  

    Pornography  

    Prostitution  

    Sexual Perversion or “Unnatural” Sexual Activity  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary 

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 14   Bioethics—Ethical Issues in Medicine  

    Objectives  

    What Is Bioethics?  

    Health Care Professionals and Patients and Their Families—Rights and Obligations  

    Truth Telling and Informed Consent  

    Confidentiality  

    Guilt and Innocence in Treating Patients  

    Ethical Issues in Medicine  

    Stem Cell Research  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Bioethical Issues  

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 15   Business and Media Ethics  

    Objectives 

    Introduction  

    Rights and Obligations in Business  

    Two Ways of Approaching Rights and Obligations in Business  

    The Moderate Position  

    Justice, Truth Telling, and Honesty in Business  

    Ethical Issues in Business  

    Sexual Harassment  

    The New Global Economy and the International Business Scene  

    Media Ethics  

    Corporate Greed—Enron  

    Cases for Study and Discussion 

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Business and Media Ethics 

    Suggested Readings  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Chapter 16   Environmental Ethics  

    Objectives  

    Definition of Key Terms 

    Nature and Morality  

    Environmental Ethical Issues  

    Our Attitude Toward Nature and What Lies Behind It  

    Arguments for Use and Exploitation of the Natural Environment  

    Arguments Against the Use and Exploitation of Nature  

    Moderate Position  

    Criteria for Animal Rights  

    Ways of Dealing with Animal Rights  

    Use of Animals for Food  

    Use of Animals for Experimentation  

    Killing Animals for Sport  

    Protection of Endangered Species  

    Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental Issues  

    Conclusion  

    Cases for Study and Discussion  

    Chapter Summary  

    Exercises for Review  

    Suggested Readings  

    Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Environmental Ethics  

    Ethics Problem 

    Notes  

Appendixes 

Introduction  

Appendix 1: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of the Taking of Human Life
Appendix 2: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing  
Appendix 3: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Abortion  
Appendix 4: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing  
Appendix 5: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Human Sexuality 

Appendix 6: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Medicine (Bioethics) 

Appendix 7: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Business (Business and Media Ethics) 

Appendix 8: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Environmental Ethics  

Supplementary Reading  

Glossary  

Index  

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