The elements of moral philosophy
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The elements of moral philosophy
McGraw-Hill, c2007
5th ed. / by Stuart Rachels
Available at 6 libraries
Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 204-210) and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
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, euthanasia, 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.
Table of Contents
PrefaceAbout the Fifth EditionCHAPTER 1: WHAT IS MORALITY?1.1. The Problem of Definition1.2. First Example: Baby Theresa1.3. Second Example: Jodie and Mary1.4. Third Example: Tracy Latimer1.5. Reason and Impartiality1.6. The Minimum Conception of MoralityCHAPTER 2: THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM2.1. How Different Cultures Have Different Moral Codes2.2. Cultural Relativism2.3. The Cultural Differences Argument2.4. The Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously2.5. Why There Is Less Disagreement Than It Seems2.6. How All Cultures Have Some Values in Common2.7. Judging a Cultural Practice to Be Undesirable2.8. What Can Be Learned from Cultural Relativism2.9. Back to the Five ClaimsCHAPTER 3: SUBJECTIVISM IN ETHICS3.1. The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism3.2. The Evolution of the Theory3.3. The First Stage: Simple Subjectivism3.4. The Second Stage: Emotivism3.5. Are There Any Moral Facts?3.6. Are There Proofs in Ethics?3.7. The Question of HomosexualityCHAPTER 4: DOES MORALITY DEPEND ON RELIGION?4.1. The Presumed Connection Between Morality and Religion4.2. The Divine Command Theory4.3. The Theory of Natural Law4.4. Religion and Particular Moral IssuesCHAPTER 5: ETHICAL EGOISM5.1. Is There a Duty to Help Starving People?5.2. Psychological Egoism5.3. Three Arguments for Ethical Egoism5.4. Three Arguments Against Ethical EgoismCHAPTER 6: THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH6.1. The Revolution in Ethics6.2. First Example: Euthanasia6.3. Second Example: Nonhuman AnimalsCHAPTER 7:THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM7.1. The Classical Version of the Theory7.2. Is Pleasure the Only Thing That Matters?7.3. Are Consequences All That Matter?7.4. Should We Be Equally Concerned for Everyone?7.5. The Defense of UtilitarianismCHAPTER 8: ARE THERE ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES? 8.1. Harry Truman and Elizabeth Anscombe8.2. The Categorical Imperative8.3. Absolute Rules and the Duty Not to Lie8.4. Conflicts Between Rules8.5. Another Look at Kant's Basic IdeaCHAPTER 9: KANT AND RESPECT FOR PERSONS9.1. The Idea of Human Dignity9.2. Retribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment9.3. Kant's RetributivismCHAPTER 10: THE IDEA OF A SOCIAL CONTRACT10.1. Hobbes's Argument10.2. The Prisoner's Dilemma10.3. Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory10.4. The Problem of Civil Disobedience10.5. Difficulties for the TheoryCHAPTER 11: FEMINISM AND THE ETHICS OF CARE11.1. Do Women and Men Think Differently about Ethics?11.2. Implications for Moral Judgment11.3. Implications for Ethical TheoryCHAPTER 12: THE ETHICS OF VIRTUE12.1. The Ethics of Virtue and the Ethics of Right Action12.2. The Virtues12.3. Some Advantages of Virtue Ethics12.4. The Problem of IncompletenessCHAPTER 13: WHAT WOULD A SATISFACTORY MORAL THEORY BE LIKE? 13.1. Morality Without Hubris13.2. Treating People as They Deserve and Other Motives13.3. Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism13.4. The Moral Community13.5. Justice and Fairness13.6. ConclusionNotes on SourcesIndex
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