The elements of moral philosophy
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Bibliographic Information
The elements of moral philosophy
McGraw-Hill Higher Education, c2010
6th ed. / by Stuart Rachels
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Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Firmly established as the standard text for undergraduate courses in ethics, this concise, lively book takes the reader on an in-depth tour of the major moral theories, always illustrating abstract ideas with concrete examples. Separate, self-contained chapters examine such theories as Egoism, Kantianism, Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics, and the Social Contract Theory. Through this conceptual framework, the text addresses timely and provocative issues, including abortion, racism, euthanasia, poverty, marijuana, homosexuality, the death penalty, and vegetarianism. The text's versatility makes it an ideal choice for use not only in ethical theory courses, but also in applied ethics courses of all kinds.
Table of Contents
PrefaceAbout the Sixth 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. Different Cultures Have Different Moral Codes2.2. Cultural Relativism2.3. The Cultural Differences Argument2.4. What Follows from Cultural Relativism2.5. Why There Is Less Disagreement Than It Seems2.6. Some Values are Shared by All Cultures2.7. Judging a Cultural Practice to Be Undesirable2.8. Back to the Five Claims 2.9. What Can Be Learned from Cultural RelativismCHAPTER 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. The Role of Reason in Ethics3.6. 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 IDEA OF A SOCIAL CONTRACT6.1. Hobbes's Argument6.2. The Prisoner's Dilemma6.3. Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory6.4. The Problem of Civil Disobedience6.5. Difficulties for the TheoryCHAPTER 7: THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH7.1. The Revolution in Ethics7.2. First Example: Euthanasia7.3. Second Example: Marijuana7.4. Third Example: Nonhuman AnimalsCHAPTER 8:THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM8.1. The Classical Version of the Theory8.2. Is Pleasure All That Matters?8.3. Are Consequences All That Matter?8.4. Should We Be Equally Concerned for Everyone?8.5. The Defense of Utilitarianism8.6. Concluding ThoughtsCHAPTER 9: ARE THERE ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES? 9.1. Harry Truman and Elizabeth Anscombe9.2. The Categorical Imperative9.3. Kant's Arguments on Lying9.4. Conflicts Between Rules9.5. Kant's InsightCHAPTER 10: KANT AND RESPECT FOR PERSONS10.1. Kant's Core Ideas10.2. Retribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment10.3. Kant's RetributivismCHAPTER 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. Two Advantages of Virtue Ethics12.4. The Problem of Incompleteness12.5. ConclusionCHAPTER 13: WHAT WOULD A SATISFACTORY MORAL THEORY BE LIKE? 13.1. Morality Without Hubris13.2. Treating People as They Deserve 13.3. A Variety of Motives13.4. Multiple-Strategies Utilitarianism13.5. The Moral Community13.6. Justice and Fairness13.7. ConclusionNotes on SourcesIndex
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