Ethics

by Thiroux, Jacques

• ISBN13: 9780137542925
• ISBN10: 0137542925
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-10-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference

Summary

This text introduces students with little or no background in philosophy or ethics to traditional and contemporary ethical theory. Through an abundance of examples and case studies, it shows them how to set up their own systematic, rational ethics and how to apply ethical theories to traditional and contemporary moral issues.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Chapter 1 What Is Morality?	1	(34)
Objectives	1	(1)
What is Philosophy and Ethics' Relationship to It?	2	(1)
Key Terms	2	(4)
Approaches to the Study of Morality	6	(2)
Morality and Its Applications	8	(5)
Where Does Morality Come From?	13	(4)
Customary or Traditional and Reflective Morality	17	(2)
Morality, Law, and Religion	19	(6)
Why Should Human Beings Be Moral?	25	(3)
Chapter Summary	28	(3)
Exercises for Review	31	(1)
Discussion Questions	32	(1)
Notes	33	(1)
Supplementary Reading	33	(2)
Chapter 2 Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories of Morality	35	(20)
Objectives	35	(1)
Psychological Egoism	36	(2)
Ethical Egoism	38	(5)
Utilitarianism	43	(5)
Difficulty with Consequentialist Theories in General	48	(1)
Chapter Summary	49	(2)
Exercises for Review	51	(1)
Discussion Questions	52	(1)
Notes	53	(1)
Supplementary Reading	53	(2)
Chapter 3 Nonconsequentialist (Deontological) Theories of Morality and Virtue Ethics	55	(28)
Objectives	55	(1)
Act Nonconsequentialist Theories	56	(3)
Rule Nonconsequentialist Theories	59	(7)
General Criticisms of Nonconsequentialist Theories	66	(2)
Virtue Ethics	68	(6)
Conclusions	74	(1)
Chapter Summary	75	(3)
Exercises for Review	78	(1)
Discussion Questions	79	(1)
Notes	80	(1)
Supplementary Reading	81	(2)
Chapter 4 Absolutism versus Relativism	83	(18)
Objectives	83	(1)
The Meaning of "Absolute"	84	(1)
The Meaning of "Relative"	85	(1)
Cultural Relativism and Cultural Absolutism	85	(2)
Propositions and Truth	87	(8)
Conclusion	95	(1)
Chapter Summary	96	(2)
Exercises for Review	98	(1)
Discussion Questions	98	(1)
Notes	99	(1)
Supplementary Reading	99	(2)
Chapter 5 Freedom versus Determinism	101	(20)
Objectives	101	(1)
Meaning of Determinism	102	(1)
Types and Theories of Determinism	102	(6)
Fatalism and Hard and Soft Determinism	108	(2)
Indeterminism	110	(1)
Criticisms of Hard Determinism and Arguments for Freedom	111	(3)
Conclusion: Soft Determinism	114	(1)
Chapter Summary	115	(3)
Exercises for Review	118	(1)
Discussion Questions	118	(1)
Notes	119	(1)
Supplementary Reading	119	(2)
Chapter 6 Reward and Punishment	121	(32)
Objectives	121	(1)
Definition of Key Terms	121	(1)
Reward and Punishment in Relationship to Justice	122	(1)
Elements of Justice	123	(1)
Reward	124	(7)
Punishment	131	(2)
Theories of Punishment	133	(10)
Is Synthesis Possible?	143	(2)
Chapter Summary	145	(5)
Exercises for Review	150	(1)
Discussion Questions	150	(1)
Notes	151	(1)
Supplementary Reading	151	(2)
Chapter 7 Setting Up a Moral System: Basic Assumptions and Basic Principles	153	(28)
Objectives	153	(1)
Conflicting General Moral Issues	154	(1)
Basic Assumptions	155	(5)
Basic Principles, Individual Freedom, and Their Justification	160	(10)
Priority of the Basic Principles	170	(1)
A General Way of Determining Priority--Two Categories	170	(4)
How the System of Humanitarian Ethics Works	174	(2)
Conclusion	176	(1)
Chapter Summary	177	(2)
Exercises for Review	179	(1)
Discussion Questions	179	(1)
Note	180	(1)
Supplementary Reading	180	(1)
Chapter 8 The Taking of Human Life	181	(31)
Objectives	181	(1)
The Taking of Human Life	182	(1)
Suicide	182	(3)
Cases for Study and Discussion	185	(1)
Defense of the Innocent (the Self Included)	186	(1)
Cases for Study and Discussion	187	(1)
War	188	(3)
Terrorism	191	(1)
Cases for Study and Discussion	192	(1)
Capital Punishment	193	(5)
Cases for Study and Discussion	198	(1)
Chapter Summary	199	(2)
Exercises for Review	201	(1)
Views of Major Ethical Theories on the Taking of Human Life	202	(1)
Suicide	202	(2)
Defense of the Innocent	204	(2)
War and Terrorism	206	(2)
Capital Punishment	208	(2)
Reader Reactions	210	(1)
Notes	210	(1)
Supplementary Reading	210	(2)
Chapter 9 Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing	212	(52)
Objectives	212	(1)
Definition of Terms	213	(1)
Current Legal Status of Mercy Death and Mercy Killing	214	(2)
Allowing Someone to Die	216	(24)
Cases for Study and Discussion	240	(2)
Mercy Death	242	(8)
Cases for Study and Discussion	250	(1)
Mercy Killing	251	(3)
Cases for Study and Discussion	254	(1)
Chapter Summary	255	(5)
Exercises for Review	260	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing	260	(1)
Notes	261	(1)
Supplementary Reading	261	(3)
Chapter 10 Abortion	264	(26)
Objectives	264	(1)
Introduction to the Abortion Issue	265	(3)
When Does Human Life Begin?	268	(2)
Arguments Against Abortion	270	(4)
Arguments for Abortion	274	(5)
The More Moderate Positions on Abortion	279	(3)
Cases for Study and Discussion	282	(2)
Chapter Summary	284	(3)
Exercises for Review	287	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Abortion	287	(1)
Notes	287	(1)
Supplementary Reading	288	(2)
Chapter 11 Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing	290	(33)
Objectives	290	(1)
Introduction	290	(1)
Definitions of Key Terms	291	(1)
Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views	292	(2)
Lying	294	(7)
Cases for Study and Discussion	301	(1)
Cheating	302	(3)
Cases for Study and Discussion	305	(1)
Breaking Promises	306	(4)
Cases for Study and Discussion	310	(2)
Stealing	312	(3)
Cases for Study and Discussion	315	(2)
Chapter Summary	317	(3)
Exercises for Review	320	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing	321	(1)
Notes	321	(1)
Supplementary Reading	321	(2)
Chapter 12 Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality	323	(33)
Objectives	323	(1)
Major Aspects of Human Sexuality	323	(1)
The Meaning and Purposes of Human Sexuality	324	(5)
Premarital Sex	329	(4)
Sex in Marriage-Type (Including Nonlegal) Relationships	333	(8)
Masturbation	341	(1)
Pornography	341	(2)
Prostitution	343	(1)
Sexual Perversion or "Unnatural" Sexual Activity	344	(1)
Cases for Study and Discussion	345	(1)
Chapter Summary	346	(6)
Exercises for Review	352	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Morality, Human Sexuality, and Marriage	353	(1)
Notes	353	(1)
Supplementary Reading	353	(3)
Chapter 13 Bioethics--Ethical Issues in Medicine	356	(33)
Objectives	356	(1)
Introduction and Definition of Terms	357	(1)
Health Care Professionals and Patients and Their Families--Rights and Obligations	357	(5)
Truth Telling and Informed Consent	362	(5)
Confidentiality	367	(2)
Guilt and Innocence in Treating Patients	369	(1)
Ethical Issues in Medicine	369	(5)
Cases for Study and Discussion	374	(3)
Chapter Summary	377	(7)
Exercises for Review	384	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Bioethical Issues	385	(1)
Notes	385	(1)
Supplementary Reading	385	(4)
Chapter 14 Business Ethics	389	(28)
Objectives	389	(1)
Introduction	390	(1)
Rights and Obligations in Business	390	(1)
Two Ways of Approaching Rights and Obligations in Business	391	(2)
The Moderate Position	393	(1)
Justice, Truth Telling, and Honesty in Business	394	(1)
Ethical Issues in Business	395	(6)
Sexual Harassment	401	(4)
Cases for Study and Discussion	405	(4)
Chapter Summary	409	(5)
Exercises for Review	414	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Business Ethics	415	(1)
Notes	415	(1)
Supplementary Reading	415	(2)
Chapter 15 Environmental Ethics	417	(29)
Objectives	417	(1)
Key Terms	418	(1)
Nature and Morality	418	(1)
Environmental Ethical Issues	419	(2)
Our Attitude Toward Nature and What Lies Behind it	421	(3)
Arguments for Use and Exploitation of the Natural Environment	424	(1)
Arguments Against the Use and Exploitation of Nature	425	(2)
Moderate Position	427	(1)
Criteria for Animal Rights	427	(2)
Ways of Dealing with Animal Rights	429	(1)
Use of Animals for Food	430	(1)
Use of Animals for Experimentation	431	(2)
Killing Animals for Sport	433	(2)
Protection of Endangered Species	435	(1)
Conclusion	436	(1)
Cases for Study and Discussion	436	(2)
Chapter Summary	438	(5)
Exercises for Review	443	(1)
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Environmental Ethics	444	(1)
Notes	444	(1)
Supplementary Reading	444	(2)
Appendixes Introduction	446	(1)
Appendix 1 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of the Taking of Human Life	447	(12)
Appendix 2 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing	459	(9)
Appendix 3 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Abortion	468	(11)
Appendix 4 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing	479	(9)
Appendix 5 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Human Sexuality	488	(7)
Appendix 6 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Medicine (Bioethics)	495	(8)
Appendix 7 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Business (Business Ethics)	503	(7)
Appendix 8 Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Environmental Ethics	510	(5)
Glossary	515	(16)
Index	531