Contemporary Moral Problems (with InfoTrac)

by White, James E.

• ISBN13: 9780534585365
• ISBN10: 0534585361
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-12
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This topically organized anthology-replete with problem cases, illuminating introductory essays, and end- of-chapter study questions--engages students in a variety of contemporary moral debates. Combining divergent viewpoints on a number of timely issues and an introduction to the major currents of thought in the history of Western ethics, White's CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS, Seventh Edition provides students with a proven roadmap through the compelling and contentious arena of today's most pressing moral problems.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Ethical Theories	1	(98)
Introduction	2	(92)
Egoism and Moral Scepticism	9	(8)
James Rachels
Religion, Morality, and Conscience	17	(8)
John Arthur
Master- and Slave-Morality	25	(5)
Friedrich Nietzsche
Trying Out One's New Sword	30	(4)
Mary Midgley
Utilitarianism	34	(7)
John Stuart Mill
The Debate over Utilitarianism	41	(8)
James Rachels
The Categorical Imperative	49	(6)
Immanuel Kant
Happiness and Virtue	55	(9)
Aristotle
The Nature and Value of Rights	64	(8)
Joel Feinberg
Taking Rights Seriously	72	(7)
Ronald Dworkin
A Theory of Justice	79	(7)
John Rawls
The Need for More Than Justice	86	(8)
Annette Baier
Problem Cases	94	(2)
Suggested Readings	96	(3)
Abortion	99	(84)
Introduction	100	(76)
The U.S. Supreme Court: Roe v. Wade (1973)	106	(10)
An Almost Absolute Value in History	116	(5)
John T. Noonan, Jr.
A Defense of Abortion	121	(10)
Judith Jarvis Thomson
Virtue Theory and Abortion	131	(13)
Rosalind Hursthouse
On the Moral and legal Status of Abortion	144	(12)
Mary Anne Warren
An Argument That Abortion Is Wrong	156	(12)
Don Marquis
Feminism and Abortion	168	(8)
Sally Markowitz
Problem Cases	176	(4)
Suggested Readings	180	(3)
Euthanasia and Sustaining Life	183	(56)
Introduction	184	(50)
Active and Passive Euthanasia	188	(5)
James Rachels
The Intentional Termination of Life	193	(6)
Bonnie Steinbock
Killing and Letting Die	199	(7)
Philippa Foot
The Survival Lottery	206	(6)
John Harris
Justifying Voluntary Euthanasia	212	(6)
Peter Singer
Objections to the Institutionalisation of Euthanasia	218	(4)
Stephen G. Potts
A Feminist Critique of Physician-Assisted Suicide	222	(12)
Susan M. Wolf
Problem Cases	234	(3)
Suggested Readings	237	(2)
Capital Punishment	239	(46)
Introduction	240	(40)
The U.S. Supreme Court: Gregg v. Georgia (1976)	243	(11)
The Retributive Theory of Punishment	254	(2)
Immanuel Kant
Deterrence and the Death Penalty	256	(9)
Louis P. Pojman
Deterrence: Common Sense and the Best Bet Argument	265	(5)
Jeffrey H. Reiman
Capital Punishment	270	(10)
Anthony G. Amsterdam
Problem Cases	280	(2)
Suggested Readings	282	(3)
Sexuality and Marriage	285	(70)
Introduction	286	(63)
The Vatican: Declaration on Sexual Ethics	290	(6)
Plain Sex	296	(12)
Alan Goldman
Why Shouldn't Tommy and Jim Have Sex? A Defense of Homosexuality	308	(11)
John Corvino
A Reply to Corvino	319	(10)
David Bradshaw
How Domestic Partnerships and ``Gay Marriage'' Threaten the Family	329	(11)
Robert H. Knight
Who Needs Marriage?	340	(9)
Jonathan Rauch
Problem Cases	349	(2)
Suggested Readings	351	(4)
Pornography and Drugs	355	(60)
Introduction	356	(52)
On Liberty	361	(4)
John Stuart Mill
Pornography and Free Speech: The Civil Rights Approach	365	(8)
Barry Lynn
Sex, Lies and Pornography	373	(12)
Ann Garry
The Ethics of Addiction	385	(8)
Thomas S. Szasz
Against Legalization of Drugs	393	(10)
James Q. Wilson
Addiction and Drug Policy	403	(5)
Daniel Shapiro
Problem Cases	408	(3)
Suggested Readings	411	(4)
Affirmative Action	415	(52)
Introduction	416	(45)
The Moral Status of Affirmative Action	420	(19)
Louis P. Pojman
The Case against Pojman	439	(6)
Albert Mosley
What Good Am I?	445	(5)
Laurence Thomas
The Message of Affirmative Action	450	(11)
Thomas E. Hill, Jr.
Problem Cases	461	(2)
Suggested Readings	463	(4)
Animals	467	(44)
Introduction	468	(38)
Our Duties to Animals	471	(1)
Immanuel Kant
All Animals Are Equal	472	(9)
Peter Singer
The Case for Animal Rights	481	(9)
Tom Regan
Do Animals Have Rights?	490	(6)
Tibor R. Machan
Vegetarianism and ``the Other Weight Problem''	496	(10)
James Rachels
Problem Cases	506	(1)
Suggested Readings	507	(4)
The Environment	511	(62)
Introduction	512	(56)
The Land Ethic	516	(11)
Aldo Leopold
Animal Liberation: A Triangular Affair	527	(18)
J. Baird Callicot
Deep Ecology	545	(8)
Bill Devall
George Sessions
Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique	553	(7)
Ramachandra Guha
The Environmental Costs of Consumption	560	(8)
Alan Thein Durning
Problem Cases	568	(3)
Suggested Readings	571	(2)
War and Terrorism	573	(64)
Introduction	574	(56)
Pacifism	579	(14)
Douglas P. Lackey
The Conduct of Just and Limited War	593	(13)
William V. O'Brien
The Morality of Terrorism	606	(13)
Haig Khatchadourian
The Terrorist's Tacit Message	619	(7)
Laurie Calhoun
The Doctrine of Jihad	626	(4)
Majid Khadduri
Problem Cases	630	(4)
Suggested Readings	634	(3)
Index	637