The Fundamentals of Ethics

Description

In The Fundamentals of Ethics, Fifth Edition, author Russ Shafer-Landau employs a uniquely engaging writing style to introduce students to the essential ideas of moral philosophy. Offering more comprehensive coverage of the good life, normative ethics, and metaethics than any other text of its kind, this book also addresses issues that are often omitted from other texts, such as the doctrine of doing and allowing, the doctrine of double effect, ethical particularism, the desire-satisfaction theory of well-being, moral error theory, and Ross's theory of prima facie duties. Shafer-Landau carefully reconstructs and analyzes dozens of arguments in depth, at a level that is understandable to students with no prior philosophical background. Cover Page Title page Copyright page Dedication Preface New to the Fifth Edition Instructors Manual and Companion Website A Note on the Companion Volume Acknowledgments Introduction The Lay of the Land Doubts about Ethics Ethical Starting Points What Is Morality? Moral Reasoning The Role of Moral Theory Looking Ahead Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Part One The Good Life Chapter 1 Hedonism Happiness and Intrinsic Value The Attractions of Hedonism Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 2 Is Happiness All that Matters? The Paradox of Hedonism Evil Pleasures False Happiness The Importance of Autonomy Lifes Trajectory Unhappiness as a Symptom of Harm Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 3 Getting What You Want A Variety of Good Lives Personal Authority Avoiding Objective Values Motivation Justifying the Pursuit of Self-Interest Knowledge of the Good Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 4 Problems for the Desire Theory Getting What You Want May Not Be Necessary for Promoting Your Good Getting What You Want May Not Be Sufficient for Promoting Your Good Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Part Two Normative Ethics: Doing the Right Thing Chapter 5 Morality and Religion First Assumption: Religious Belief Is Needed for Moral Motivation Second Assumption: God Is the Creator of Morality Third Assumption: Religion Is an Essential Source of Moral Guidance Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 6 Natural Law The Theory and Its Attractions Three Conceptions of Human Nature Natural Purposes The Argument from Humanity Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 7 Psychological Egoism Egoism and Altruism Does It Matter Whether Psychological Egoism Is True? The Argument from Our Strongest Desires The Argument from Expected Benefit Two Egoistic Strategies Letting the Evidence Decide Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 8 Ethical Egoism Why Be Moral? Two Popular Arguments for Ethical Egoism The Best Argument for Ethical Egoism Three Problems for Ethical Egoism Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 9 Consequentialism The Nature of Consequentialism The Attractions of Utilitarianism The Scope of the Moral Community Slippery Slope Arguments Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 10 Consequentialism Measuring Well-Being Utilitarianism Is Very Demanding Impartiality No Intrinsic Wrongness (or Rightness) The Problem of Injustice Potential Solutions to the Problem of Injustice Rule Consequentialism Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 11 The Kantian Perspective Consistency and Fairness The Principle of Universalizability Morality and Rationality Assessing the Principle of Universalizability Integrity Kant on Absolute Moral Duties Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 12 The Kantian Perspective The Principle of Humanity The Importance of Rationality and Autonomy The Problem of Free Will Four Problems with the Principle of Humanity The Good Will and Moral Worth Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 13 The Social Contract Tradition The Lure of Proceduralism The Background of the Social Contract Theory The Prisoners Dilemma Cooperation and the State of Nature The Advantages of Contractarianism More Advantages: Morality and the Law Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 14 The Social Contract Tradition Why Be Moral? The Role of Consent Disagreement among the Contractors The Scope of the Moral Community Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 15 Ethical Pluralism and Absolute Moral Rules The Structure of Moral Theories Is Torture Always Immoral? Preventing Catastrophes The Doctrine of Double Effect Moral Conflict and Contradiction Is Moral Absolutism Irrational? The Doctrine of Doing and Allowing Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 16 Ethical Pluralism Rosss Ethic of Prima Facie Duties The Advantages of Rosss View A Problem for Rosss View Knowing the Fundamental Moral Rules Self-Evidence and the Testing of Moral Theories Knowing the Right Thing to Do Ethical Particularism Three Problems for Ethical Particularism Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 17 Virtue Ethics The Standard of Right Action Moral Complexity Moral Understanding Moral Education The Nature of Virtue Virtue and the Good Life Objections Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Chapter 18 Feminist Ethics The Elements of Feminist Ethics Moral Development Womens Experience The Ethics of Care Challenges for Feminist Ethics Conclusion Discussion Questions Cases for Critical Reflection List of Key Terms Part Three Metaethics: The Status of Morality Chapter 19 Ethical Relativism Doubts about Objective Morality Two Kinds of Ethical Relativism Some Implications of Ethical Subjectivism and Cultural Relativism Ideal Observers Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 20 Moral Nihilism Error Theory Expressivism Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 21 Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity Objectivity Requires Absolutism All Truth Is Subjective Equal Rights Imply Equal Plausibility Moral Objectivity Supports Dogmatism Moral Objectivity Supports Intolerance Moral Objectivity Cannot Allow for Legitimate Cultural Variation Moral Disagreement Undermines Moral Objectivity Atheism Undermines Moral Objectivity The Absence of Categorical Reasons Undermines Moral Objectivity Moral Motivation Undermines Moral Objectivity Values Have No Place in a Scientific World Conclusion Discussion Questions List of Key Terms Chapter 22 Is Moral Knowledge Possible? The Skeptical Argument from Disagreement Certainty Whos to Say? Irrelevant Influences Humes Argument Conclusion List of Key Terms Glossary References Suggestions for Further Reading Where to Start Hedonism Getting What You Want Morality and Religion Natural Law Psychological Egoism Ethical Egoism Consequentialism Kantian Ethics Social Contract Theory Ethical Pluralism Virtue Ethics The Ethics of Feminism The Status of Morality Index Blank Page