The Elements of Moral Philosophy

by Rachels, James

Edition:

2nd

ISBN13:

9780070510982

ISBN10:

0070510989

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

1/1/1994

Publisher(s):

McGraw Hill College Div

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Summary

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.

Preface

(2)

About the Second Edition

xiii

1. WHAT IS MORALITY?

(14)

1.1. The Problem of Definition

1.2. An Example of Moral Reasoning: Baby Jane Doe

1.3. Reason and Impartiality

1.4. The Minimum Conception of Morality

2. THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM

(15)

2.1. How Different Cultures Have Different Moral Codes

2.2. Cultural Relativism

2.3. The Cultural Differences Argument

2.4. The Consequences of Taking Cultural Relativism Seriously

2.5. Why There Is Less Disagreement Than It Seems

2.6. How All Cultures Have Some Values in Common

2.7. What Can Be Learned from Cultural Relativism

3. SUBJECTIVISM IN ETHICS

(14)

3.1. The Basic Idea of Ethical Subjectivism

3.2. The Evolution of the Theory

3.3. The First Stage: Simple Subjectivism

3.4. The Second Stage: Emotivism

3.5. Emotivism, Reason, and "Moral Facts"

3.6. The Example of Homosexuality

4. DOES MORALITY DEPEND ON RELIGION?

(18)

4.1. The Presumed Connection Between Morality and Religion

4.2. The Divine Command Theory

4.3. The Theory of Natural Law

4.4. Christianity and the Problem of Abortion

5. PSYCHOLOGICAL EGOISM

(13)

5.1. Is Unselfishness Possible?

5.2. The Strategy of Reinterpreting Motives

5.3. Two Arguments in Favor of Psychological Egoism

5.4. Clearing Away Some Confusions

5.5. The Deepest Error in Psychological Egoism

6. ETHICAL EGOISM

(15)

6.1. Is There a Duty to Contribute for Famine Relief?

6.2. Three Arguments in Favor of Ethical Egoism

6.3. Three Arguments Against Ethical Egoism

7. THE UTILITARIAN APPROACH

(12)

7.1. The Revolution in Ethics

7.2. First Example: Euthanasia

7.3. Second Example: Nonhuman Animals

8. THE DEBATE OVER UTILITARIANISM

102

(15)

8.1. The Resilience of the Theory

8.2. Is Happiness the Only Thing That Matters?

8.3. Are Consequences All That Matter?

8.4. The Defense of Utilitarianism

8.5. What Is Correct and What Is Incorrect in Utilitarianism

9. ARE THERE ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES?

117

(10)

9.1. Kant and The Categorical Imperative

9.2. Absolute Rules and the Duty Not to Lie

9.3. Conflicts Between Rules

9.4. Another Look at Kant's Basic Idea

10. KANT AND RESPECT FOR PERSONS

127

(12)

10.1. The Idea of "Human Dignity"

10.2. Retribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment

10.3. Kant's Retributivism

11. THE IDEA OF A SOCIAL CONTRACT

139

(20)

11.1. Hobbes's Argument

11.2. The Prisoner's Dilemma

11.3. Some Advantages of the Social Contract Theory of Morals

11.4. The Problem of Civil Disobedience

11.5. Difficulties for the Theory

12. THE ETHICS OF VIRTUE

159

(21)

12.1. The Ethics of Virtue and the Ethics of Right Action

12.2. Should We Return to the Ethics of Virtue?

12.3. The Virtues

12.4. Some Advantages of Virtue Ethics

12.5. The Incompleteness of Virtue Ethics

13. WHAT WOULD A SATISFACTORY MORAL THEORY BE LIKE?

180

(14)

13.1. Morality Without Hubris

13.2. The Moral Community

13.3. Justice and Fairness

Suggestions for Further Reading

194

(8)

Notes on Sources

202

(5)

Index

207

The Elements of Moral Philosophy

9780070510982

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Table of Contents