Ethics : Discovering Right and Wrong

by Pojman,Louis P.

• ISBN13: 9780495502357
• ISBN10: 0495502359
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-12
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Study ethics from one of the classic texts, written by one of contemporary philosophy’s most skilled teachers, Louis P. Pojman, and now revised by best-selling author and editor of the INTERNET ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHILOSOPHY, James Fieser. ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG, Sixth Edition, provides you with a concise yet comprehensive overview of the fundamental objectives and outlooks of ethical theory. Written in a conversational manner with strong learning aids and numerous classical and contemporary examples, this book teaches you how to develop your own moral theories and competently reason through ethical problems for yourself. The text even-handedly raises critical questions with its non-dogmatic style and generous presentation of various positions. This edition offers more feminist as well as multicultural ethical perspectives. Initial chapters discuss general concerns about meta-ethics before presenting major moral theories. Later chapters address special topics in personal and religious ethics as well as the most recent developments in moral theory. A helpful appendix teaches how to write ethics papers, while study questions for each chapter and useful bibliographies further assist you in review and additional exploration of topics. A companion website offers additional support with essay questions and numerous interactive learning aids.

Table of Contents

Preface

What is Ethics?

Ethics and its subdivisions

Morality as compared with other normative subjects

Traits of moral principles

Domains of ethical assessment

Conclusion

Ethical Relativism

Subjective ethical relativism

Conventional ethical relativism

Criticisms of conventional ethical relativism

Conclusion

Moral Objectivism

Aquinas+ objectivism and absolutism

Moderate objectivism

Ethical situationalism

Conclusion

Value and the Quest for the Good

Intrinsic and instrumental value

The value of pleasure

Are values objective or subjective? The relation of value to morality

The good life

Social Contract Theory and the Motive to be Moral

Why does society need moral rules? Why should I be moral? Morality, self-interest and game theory

The motive to always be moral

Conclusion

Egoism, self-Interest, and Altruism

Psychological egoism

Ethical egoism

Arguments against ethical egoism

Evolution and altruism

Conclusion

Utilitarianism

Classic utilitarianism

Act and rule-utilitarianism

Criticism of utilitarianism

Criticism of the ends justifying immoral means

Conclusion

Kant and Deontological Theories

Kant+s influences

The categorical imperative

Counterexamples to the principle of the law of nature

Other formulations of the categorical imperative

The problem of exceptionless rules

The problem of posterity

Conclusion: a reconciliation project

Virtue Theory

The nature of virtue ethics

Criticisms of action-based ethics

Connections between virtue-based and action-based ethics

Feminism and the ethics of care

Conclusion

Religion and Ethics

Does morality depend on religion? Is religion irrelevant or even contrary to morality? Does religion enhance the moral life? Conclusion

The Fact Value Problem

Hume and Moore: the problem classically stated

Ayer and emotivism

Hare and prescriptivism

Naturalism and the fact-value problem

Conclusion

Moral Realism and the Challenge of Skepticism

Mackie+s moral skepticism

Harman+s moral nihilism

A defense of moral realism

Conclusion

Appendix: How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper

Glossary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.