Ethics Discovering Right and Wrong

by Pojman, Louis P.

• ISBN13: 9780534561383
• ISBN10: 0534561381
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-01
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

How do you know right from wrong? ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG shows you how history's greatest thinkers have understood ethics and gives you the tools to decide for yourself what's moral and immoral. And, of course, along the way youll master the basics of ethical philosophy.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
A Word to the Student: Why Study Moral Philosophy?	xvii
Introduction: What Is Ethics?	1	(23)
Morality as Compared with Other Normative Subjects	3	(3)
Traits of Moral Principles	6	(3)
Domains of Ethical Assessment	9	(3)
Why Do We Need Morality?	12	(4)
The Purposes of Morality	16	(2)
Conclusion	18	(2)
For Further Reflection	20	(3)
For Further Reading	23	(1)
Ethical Relativism: Who's to Judge What's Right and Wrong?	24	(18)
An Analysis of Relativism	26	(2)
Subjective Ethical Relativism (Subjectivism)	28	(3)
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	(1)
The Case for Moral Objectivism	42	(19)
Natural Law	43	(6)
Moderate Objectivism	49	(5)
An Explanation of the Attraction of Ethical Relativism	54	(3)
Conclusion	57	(1)
For Further Reflection	58	(1)
For Further Reading	59	(2)
Value: The Quest for the Good	61	(20)
What Types of Value Are There?	63	(2)
What Things Are Good?	65	(4)
Are Values Objective or Subjective?	69	(2)
What Is the Relation of Value to Morality?	71	(3)
What Is the Good Life?	74	(5)
For Further Reflection	79	(1)
For Further Reading	80	(1)
Egoism, Self-Interest, and Altruism	81	(23)
An Overview of the Problem	81	(3)
Psychological Egoism	84	(5)
Ethical Egoism	89	(3)
A Critique of Ethical Egoism	92	(2)
Attempted Refutations of Egoism	94	(2)
Evolution and Altruism	96	(3)
Egoism and the Problem of Posterity	99	(1)
Conclusion	100	(1)
For Further Reflection	101	(1)
For Further Reading	102	(2)
Utilitarianism	104	(30)
What Is Utilitarianism?	107	(4)
Two Types of Utilitarianism	111	(4)
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism	115	(3)
External Criticisms of Utilitarianism	118	(3)
Utilitarian Responses to Standard Objections	121	(5)
The Problem of Posterity	126	(2)
Conclusion	128	(2)
For Further Reflection	130	(2)
For Further Reading	132	(2)
Kantian and Deontological Systems	134	(25)
Two Types of Deontological Systems	134	(4)
Kant's Rule-Deontological System	138	(3)
The Categorical Imperative	141	(8)
Kant's Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative	149	(4)
Kant's Ethics and Religion	153	(1)
A Reconciliation Project	154	(3)
For Further Reflection	157	(1)
For Further Reading	158	(1)
Virtue-Based Ethical Systems	159	(23)
The Aretaic Critique of Action-Based (Deontic) Ethical Systems	160	(4)
The Nature of Virtue Ethics	164	(5)
Types of Relationships between Virtue Ethics and Action Ethics	169	(8)
Conclusion	177	(3)
For Further Reflection	180	(1)
For Further Reading	180	(2)
Why Should I Be Moral?	182	(12)
The Paradox of Morality and Self-Interest	186	(6)
For Further Reflection	192	(1)
For Further Reading	193	(1)
Religion and Ethics	194	(17)
Does Morality Depend on Religion?	195	(4)
Is Religious Ethics Essentially Different from Secular Ethics?	199	(1)
Is Religion Irrelevant or Even Inimical to Morality?	200	(3)
Does Religion Enhance the Moral Life?	203	(4)
Conclusion	207	(2)
For Further Reflection	209	(1)
For Further Reading	210	(1)
The Fact-Value Problem: Metaethics in the 20th Century	211	(28)
Nonnaturalism	213	(4)
Emotivism	217	(5)
Prescriptivism	222	(10)
The Renaissance of Naturalism	232	(3)
Conclusion	235	(2)
For Further Reflection	237	(1)
For Further Reading	238	(1)
Moral Realism and the Challenge of Skepticism	239	(16)
Mackie's Error Theory of Morality	242	(4)
Harman's Moral Nihilism	246	(5)
Conclusion	251	(2)
For Further Reflection	253	(1)
For Further Reading	253	(2)
A Concluding Reflection: Minimal Morality, Virtue Ethics, and the Development of Character	255	(6)
Appendix 1 An Analysis of the Modified Divine Command Theory	261	(6)
A Critique of the Modified Divine Command Theory	263	(4)
Appendix 2 How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper	267	(4)
Suggestions for Reading a Philosophy Text	268	(1)
Suggestions for Writing a Philosophy Paper	269	(2)
Glossary	271	(8)
Index	279