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Philosophical Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy

Philosophical Ethics: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

This accessible overview of classical and modern moral theory with short readings provides comprehensive coverage of ethics and unique coverage of rights, justice, liberty and law. Real-life cases introduce each chapter. While the book's content is theoretical rather than applied ethics, Beauchamp consistently applies the theories to practical moral problems. Aristotle, Hume, Kant, and Mill are at the books core and they are placed in the context of moral philosophical controversies of the last 30 years. In this edition one-third of the reading selections are new and all the selections in chapter 8 on rights are new. Chapter 7 on Hume has been heavily reshaped. Chapter 1 has been reduced to get students past introductory material and into the philosophers.

About the Author

Tom Beauchamp is a well known and highly respected ethics professor. In addition to teaching at Georgetown University, he has served as a senior research scholar the Kennedy Instiute for the Study of Human Reproduction and Ethics. He has authored numerous successful texts, including Contemporary Issues in Bioethics (WAdsworth) and Ethical Theory in Business (PH). He was the General Editor with David Norton and M.A. Stewart of The Critical Ediotn of the Works of David Hume (Princeton U Press). He was formerly the Chairman of the Committee on Philosophy and Medicine of the American Philosophical Association and earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

Chapter 1: Morality and Moral Philosophy

Case Study: The Watergate Coverup

Morality

The Nature of a Moral Postition: Ronald Dworkin: "The Concept of a Moral Position"

The Object of Morality: G.J. Warnock: "The Object of Morality"

Approaches to the Study of Morality

The Remainder of This Text

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 2: Relativity, Pluralism, and Individuality in Morals

Case Study: Mercy Killing in Canada

Relativism in Morals: J.L. Mackie: "Relativism and the Claim to Objectivity"; Richard B. Brandt: "Relativism and Ultimate Disagreements about Ethical Principles"

Moral Disagreement: Alasdair MacIntyre: "Moral Disagreements"

Egoism: David P. Gauthier: "The Incompleat Egoist"

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 3: Justification and Truth

Case Study: Organ Procurement Policies

Moral Arguments and Moral Justification

Internal and External Justifications

Ultimate Justification and Individual Choice: William K. Frankena: "Why Be Moral?"

Cognitivism

Noncognitivism

Moral Realism and Antirealism: David McNaughton: "Morality--Invention or Discovery?"; J.L. Mackie: "Subjectivsim, Objectism, and the Error Theory"

Reflective Equilibrium: John Rawls: "Some Remarks About Moral Theory"

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

PART 2: CLASSICAL ETHICAL THEORIES

Chapter 4: Mill and Utilitarian Theories

Case Study: Health Policy for Hypertension

The Objectives of Normative Theories

The Utilitarian Conception of Morality: John Stuart Mills: "Utilitarianism"

The Concept of Utility

Act Utilitariansim: J.J.C. Smart: "An Outline of a System of Utilitarian Ethics"

Rule Utilitarianism: Richard B. Brandt: "Some Merits of One Form of Rule-Utilitarianism"

Criticisms and Defenses of Utilitarianism: Robert Nozick: "Moral Constraints and Moral Goals"

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 5: Kant and Deontological Theories

Case Study: Plutonium Secrets

The Deontological Conception of Morality: John Rawls: "Utilitarianism and Deontology"

Kant's Ethics: Immanual Kant: "The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative"

Prima Facie Obligations: W.D. Ross: "What Makes Right Acts Right?"

Respect for Persons and Respect for Autonomy

Deontolgoical Constraints

Criticisms and Defenses of Deontolgoical Theories

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 6: Aristotle and Virtue Theories

Case Study: The Virtues of Jane Addams

The Concept of Virtue

Aristotelian Ethics: Aristotle: "Moral Virtue"

The Special Place of the Virtues: Alasdair MacIntyre: "The Nature of the Virtues"

Can Virtues and Obligations Coexist?

Moral Ideals and Moral Excellence: Joel Feinberg: "Obligation and Supererogation"

Criticisms and Defenses of Virtue Ethics: Robert B. Louden: "On Some Vices of Virtue Ethics"

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 7: Hume and Humean Theories

Case Study: Drinking Dessert Wines

Hume's Moral Philosophy: David Hume: "The Principles of Morals"

Morals by Invention: J.L. Mackie: "The Content of Ethics"

Morals by Agreement: David Gauthier: "David Hume, Contractarian"

The Voice of Moral Sentiment: Annette Baier: "Hume, The Women's Moral Theorist?"

Criticisms of Humean Ethics

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

PART 3: TOPICS IN MORAL AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Chapter 8: Rights

Case Study: The Taliban in Control

Rights and Human Rights

Liberalism and Its Communitarian Critics: Joel Feinberg: "Liberalism and Dogmatism"

The Communitarian Rejection of Liberalism: Charles Taylor: "Atomism"; Jeremy Waldron: "When Justice Replaces Affection: The Needs for Rights"

Rights Against Oppression: Susan Moller Okin: "Feminism, Women's Human Rights, and Cultural Differences"

Types of Rights

The Contingency of Rights

Right-Based Ethical Theories

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 9: Justice

Case Study: Nuclear Fallout in the Marshall Islands

The Nature of Justice

Principles of Justice

The Liberatarian Theory: Robert Nozick: "The Entitlement Theory"

The Egalitarian Theory: John Rawls: "An Egalitarian Theory of Justice"

Criticisms of Theories of Justice: Alasdair Mac Intryre: Rival Justices, Competing Rationalities; Susan Moller Okin: "The Family: Beyond Justice?"

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Chapter 10: Liberty

Case Study: Restricting Access to the Internet

The Concepts of Autonomy and Liberty

The Valid Restriction of Liberty: John Stuart Mill: "On Liberty"

Legal Moralism: Robert George: "Making Men Moral"

The Offense Principles: Joel Feinberg: "'Harmless Immoralities' and Offensive Nuances"

Paternalism: Gerald Dworkin: "Paternalism"

Conclusion

Suggested Supplementary Readings

Product Details

ISBN:
9780072297218
Subtitle:
An Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
Author:
Beauchamp, Thomas L.
Location:
Boston, Mass. :
Subject:
Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Subject:
Ethics
Subject:
Morals,Morality,Ethics,Moral Philosophy,Suggested Supplementary Readings,Virtue,Utilitarianism,Justice,Rights,Nature,Criticisms,John Stuart Mills
Copyright:
Edition Number:
3
Edition Description:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Publication Date:
20000602
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
College/higher education:
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
416
Dimensions:
9.200 x 6.300 x 0.820 in 1.150 lb
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