Table of Contents
Introduction 1
1 Relative Ethics or Universal Ethics? 8
1.1 Relative Ethics 8
1.2 Universal Ethics 10
1.3 Cultural Relativism or Ethical Relativism? 10
1.4 Cultural Relativism and Universal Ethics 11
1.5 Ethics and Human Nature 12
1.6 Ethics and Human Rationality 13
1.7 Relative Ethics or Universal Ethics? 14
1.8 Conclusion 16
Concepts, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 1 18
Review Questions 18
Discussion Questions 19
2 Virtue Ethics 21
2.1 What Are Virtues? 23
2.2 Aristotle, Happiness, and the Virtues 25
2.3 A Developmental Model 27
2.4 Universalism and Relativism Again 29
2.5 Virtue Ethics: a Guide to Good Behavior 32
2.6 Pros and Cons of Virtue Ethics 34
2.7 Conclusion 36
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 2 38
Concepts, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 2 38
Review Questions 39
Discussion Questions 39
3 Natural Law Ethics 41
3.1 What Is Natural Law and Where Does It Come From? 42
3.2 The Natural Law and Universal Ethics 44
3.3 Natural Law Ethics and Human Nature 45
3.4 Natural Law Ethics and Virtue Ethics 50
3.5 When Following the Natural Law Is Unclear: Use the Pauline Principle 50
3.6 When Following the Natural Law Is Unclear: Use the Principle of Double Effect 52
3.7 Conclusion 55
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 3 57
Concepts, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 3 57
Review Questions 58
Discussion Questions 58
4 Social Contract Ethics 60
4.1 Continuities and Discontinuities with Natural Law Ethics 61
4.2 The Principle of Self-interest (Ethical Egoism) 63
4.3 The State of Nature 63
4.4 AContract Involves Cooperation 65
4.5 A Contract Involves Rationality 67
4.6 Common-sense Morality (Properly Understood) 69
4.7 Social Contract Ethics Applied 71
4.8 Conclusion 74
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 4 77
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 4 77
Review Questions 78
Discussion Questions 78
5 Utilitarian Ethics 81
5.1 Ethics Is Based on Feelings 82
5.2 Is <$$$> Ought: Shorthand for Hume's Theory of Moral Sentiments 85
5.3 Feelings, Utility, and Consequences 87
5.4 Utility and Happiness 90
5.5 Utilitarianism: Relativist or Universalist? 91
5.6 Utility and Equality 92
5.7 Utilitarian Applications 94
5.8 Conclusion 96
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 5 99
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 5 99
Review Questions 100
Discussion Questions 100
6 Deontological Ethics 103
6.1 Duty-centered Ethics 105
6.2 Ethics of Freedom and Rationality 106
6.3 The Main Deontological Principle: The Categorical Imperative 107
6.4 One Form of the Categorical Imperative: The Principle of Autonomy 110
6.5 Another Form of the Categorical Imperative: The Principle of Universality 112
6.6 Duties Correlate with Rights (Usually) 114
6.7 Deontology: Relativist or Universalist? 117
6.8 Deontological Applications 117
6.9 Conclusion 121
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 6 123
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 6 123
Review Questions 124
Discussion Questions 124
7 Care Ethics 127
7.1 Ethics Is Based on Feelings 129
7.2 Humans Are Relational Beings 130
7.3 Ethics of Principles 133
7.4 Virtue Ethics and Partiality 136
7.5 Feminine Ethics 137
7.6 Care Ethics: Relativist or Universalist? 138
7.7 Care Ethics Applications 140
7.8 Conclusion 142
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 7 144
Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Reviewed in Chapter 7 144
Review Questions 145
Discussion Questions 146
8 Conclusion: Using the Tools of Ethics 149
8.1 Living Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 151
8.2 Ethical Issues, Both Private and Public 151
8.3 Useful Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 153
8.4 Ethical Tools Are Not Mechanical Tools 156
8.5 How to Use Ethical Tools 157
8.6 Pitfalls and Practice 166
8.7 Wrap Up 168
Review Questions 169
Discussion Questions 159
Appendix 1 Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 171
Appendix 2 Ethical Principles 179
Appendix 3 Suggested Readings 181
Appendix 4 Metaethics 189
Appendix 5 Select Bibliography 202
Appendix 6 Glossary 209
Index 216
