Conduct and Character Readings in Moral Theory

by Timmons, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780495502371
• ISBN10: 0495502375
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-01-01
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

CONDUCT AND CHARACTER is a concise anthology of readings in ethical theory that covers the major schools of thought as well as a handful of fundamental topics in ethical theory. Reading selections in the chapters provide coverage of both classical and contemporary philosophical writings, representing a spectrum of viewpoints on each theory or topic. The readings include brief introductions to assist students in identifying key ideas and have been selected and edited in order to optimize student comprehension. This collection is perfect for ethics courses that focus on theory, as well as a supplementary text for applied ethics courses. Because of short, self-contained chapters it also works very well for an ethics component in introductory philosophy courses.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction to Moral Theory: The Nature and Evaluation of Moral Theories

Basic Moral Concepts

The Aims of Moral Theory

The Role of Moral Principles in a Moral Theory

The Structure of a Moral Theory

Brief Summary

How to Evaluate a Moral Theory

Preview

Egoism

The Myth of Gyges

Egoisms

Ethics by Authority

Morality is Based on God's Commands

Mark Timmons: Does Morality Depend on God's Commands?

A Defense of Ethical Relativism

The Challenge of Cultural Relativism

The Natural Law Theory

Treatise on Law

The Ethics of Natural Law

The Doctrine of Double Effect

Natural Law Theory: Some Questions

Consequentialism

The Principle of Utility

In Defense of Utilitarianism

The Experience Machine

Utilitarianism: Act or Rule?

Rule-Consequentialism

Kantian Ethical Theory

Morality as a System of Categorical Imperatives

Kant's Principle of Universal Law

Kant on Treating People as Ends in Themselves

On Treating People as Ends in Themselves: A Critique of Kant

Contract Theory

The Social Contract

Mark C. Murphy

Hobbe's Social Contract Theory

A Contractualist Theory of What We Owe to Each Other

Can Contract Theory Ground Morality?

Virtue Ethics

Virtue and Character

Normative Virtue Ethics

Virtue and Right

Excellence in Being for the Good

The Ethics of Care

Moral Orientation and Moral Development

An Ethic of Caring

Caring and Evil

Care Ethics and Virtue Ethics

Pluralism

Moral Choice without Principles

What Makes Right Actions Right?

Agonizing Decisions and Moral Pluralism

How Strong is this Obligation?

Particularism

Principles or Particularism?

Brad Hooker/ Moral Particularism: Wrong and Bad

About the Author

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