Ethics Discovering Right and Wrong

by Pojman, Louis P.

• ISBN13: 9780534619367
• ISBN10: 0534619363
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-25
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Preface. A Word to the Student: Why Study Moral Philosophy? 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS ETHICS? Morality As Compared with Other Normative Subjects. Traits of Moral Principles. Domains of Ethical Assessment. Why Do We Need Morality? The Purposes of Morality. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 2. ETHICAL RELATIVISM: WHO'S TO JUDGE WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG? An Analysis of Relativism. Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism). Conventional Ethical Relativism (Conventionalism). A Critique of Ethical Relativism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 3. THE CASE FOR MORAL OBJECTIVISM. Natural Law. Moderate Objectivism. An Explanation of the Attraction of Ethical Relativism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 4. VALUE: THE QUEST FOR GOOD. What Types of Value Are There? What Things Are Good? Are Values Objective or Subjective? What is the Good Life? For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 5. EGOISM, SELF-INTEREST, AND ALTRUISM. An Overview of the Problem. Psychological Egoism. Ethical Egoism. A Critique of Ethical Egoism. Attempted Refutations of Egoism. Evolution and Altruism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 6. UTILITARIANISM. What is Utilitarianism? Two Types of Utilitarianism. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism. External Criticisms of Utilitarianism. Utilitarian Responses to Standard Objections. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 7. KANTIAN AND DEONTOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. Two Types of Deontological Systems. Kant's Rule-Deontological System. The Categorical Imperative. Kant's Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative. Kant's Ethics and Religion. A Reconciliation Project. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 8. VIRTUE-BASED ETHICAL SYSTEMS. The Aretaic Critique of Action-Based (Deontic) Ethical Systems. The Nature of Virtue Ethics. Types of Relationships between Virtue Ethics and Action Ethics. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 9. WHY SHOULD I BE MORAL? The Paradox of Morality and Self-Interest. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 10. RELIGION AND ETHICS. Does Morality Depend on Religion? Is Religious Ethics Essentially Different from Secular Ethics? Is Religion Irrelevant or Even Inimical to Morality? Does Religion Enhance the Moral Life? For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 11. THE FACT-VALUE PROBLEM: METAETHICS IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Nonnaturalism. Emotivism. Prescriptivism. The Renaissance of Naturalism. For Further Reflection. For Further Reading. 12. MORAL REALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM. Mackie's Error Theory of Morality. Harman's Moral Nihilism. For Further Reading. A Concluding Reflection: Minimal Morality, Virtue Ethics, and the Development of Character. Appendix 1. An Analysis of the Modified Divine Command Theory. Appendix 2. How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper. Glossary. Index.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
A Word to the Student: Why Study Moral Philosophy?	xi
1 Introduction: What Is Ethics?	1	(24)
Morality as Compared with Other Normative Subjects	2	(4)
Traits of Moral Principles	6	(3)
Domains of Ethical Assessment	9	(3)
Why Do We Need Morality?	12	(6)
Conclusion	18	(2)
For Further Reflection	20	(3)
For Further Reading	23	(2)
2 Ethical Relativism: Who's to Judge What's Right and Wrong?	25	(18)
Introduction	26	(1)
An Analysis of Relativism	27	(2)
Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism)	29	(2)
Conventional Ethical Relativism (Conventionalism)	31	(4)
A Critique of Ethical Relativism	35	(3)
Conclusion	38	(1)
For Further Reflection	39	(2)
For Further Reading	41	(2)
3 The Case for Moral Objectivism	43	(17)
Natural Law	45	(6)
Moderate Objectivism	51	(5)
An Explanation of the Attraction of Ethical Relativism	56	(1)
Conclusion	57	(1)
For Further Reflection	58	(1)
For Further Reading	59	(1)
4 Value: The Quest for the Good	60	(19)
What Types of Value Are There?	62	(2)
What Things Are Good?	64	(3)
Are Values Objective or Subjective?	67	(2)
What Is the Relation of Value to Morality?	69	(3)
What Is the Good Life?	72	(4)
For Further Reflection	76	(1)
For Further Reading	77	(2)
5 Egoism, Self-Interest, and Altruism	79	(24)
An Overview of the Problem	79	(3)
Psychological Egoism	82	(5)
Ethical Egoism	87	(6)
Attempted Refutations of Egoism	93	(2)
Evolution and Altruism	95	(3)
Egoism and the Problem of Posterity	98	(1)
Conclusion	99	(1)
For Further Reflection	100	(1)
For Further Reading	101	(2)
6 Utilitarianism	103	(28)
What Is Utilitarianism?	106	(4)
Two Types of Utilitarianism	110	(3)
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism	113	(3)
External Criticisms of Utilitarianism	116	(3)
Utilitarian Responses to Standard Objections	119	(4)
The Problem of Posterity	123	(2)
Conclusion	125	(2)
For Further Reflection	127	(2)
For Further Reading	129	(2)
7 Kantian and Deontological Systems	131	(24)
Two Types of Deontological Systems	131	(4)
Kant's Rule-Deontological System	135	(2)
The Categorical Imperative	137	(8)
Kant's Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative	145	(3)
Kant's Ethics and Religion	148	(2)
Conclusion: A Reconciliation Project	150	(2)
For Further Reflection	152	(1)
For Further Reading	153	(2)
8 Virtue-Based Ethical Systems	155	(26)
The Aretaic Critique of Action-Based (Deontic) Ethical Systems	156	(4)
The Nature of Virtue Ethics	160	(5)
Types of Relationships Between Virtue Ethics and Action Ethics	165	(8)
Feminism and the Ethics of Care	173	(1)
Care and Particularism	174	(2)
Conclusion	176	(2)
For Further Reflection	178	(1)
For Further Reading'	179	(2)
9 Why Should I Be Moral?	181	(11)
The Paradox of Morality and Self-Interest	184	(5)
Conclusion	189	(1)
For Further Reflection	190	(1)
For Further Reading	191	(1)
10 Religion and Ethics	192	(16)
Does Morality Depend on Religion?	193	(4)
Are Religious Ethics Essentially Different from Secular Ethics?	197	(7)
Conclusion	204	(2)
For Further Reflection	206	(1)
For Further Reading	207	(1)
11 The Fact-Value Problem: Metaethics in the Twentieth Century	208	(27)
Nonnaturalism	210	(4)
Emotivism	214	(4)
Prescriptivism	218	(9)
The Renaissance of Naturalism	227	(3)
Conclusion	230	(2)
For Further Reflection	232	(1)
For Further Reading	233	(2)
12 Moral Realism and the Challenge of Skepticism	235	(18)
Mackie's Error Theory of Morality	238	(3)
Harman's Moral Nihilism	241	(5)
Conclusion	246	(2)
For Further Reflection	248	(1)
For Further Reading	248	(1)
A Concluding Reflection: Minimal Morality, Virtue Ethics, and the Development of Character	249	(4)
Appendix 1 An Analysis of the Modified Divine Command Theory	253	(6)
A Critique of the Modified Divine Command Theory	255	(4)
Appendix 2 How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper	259	(4)
Suggestions for Reading a Philosophy Text	260	(1)
Suggestions for Writing a Philosophy Paper	261	(2)
Glossary	263	(8)
Index	271