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. ~ Product Description

Table of Contents

• • Preface.
• 1. WHAT IS ETHICS?
  • Ethics and its subdivisions.
  • Morality as compared with other normative subjects.
  • Traits of moral principles.
  • Domains of ethical assessment.
  • Conclusion.
• 2. ETHICAL RELATIVISM.
  • Subjective ethical relativism.
  • Conventional ethical relativism.
  • Criticisms of conventional ethical relativism.
  • Conclusion.
• 3. MORAL OBJECTIVISM.
  • Aquinas objectivism and absolutism.
  • Moderate objectivism.
  • Ethical situationalism.
  • Conclusion.
• 4. 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.
• 5. 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.
• 6. EGOISM, SELF-INTEREST, AND ALTRUISM.
  • Psychological egoism.
  • Ethical egoism.
  • Arguments against ethical egoism.
  • Evolution and altruism. Conclusion.
• 7. UTILITARIANISM.
  • Classic utilitarianism.
  • Act and rule-utilitarianism.
  • Criticism of utilitarianism.
  • Criticism of the ends justifying immoral means.
  • Conclusion.
• 8. KANT AND DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES.
  • Kants 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.
• 9. 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.
• 10. RELIGION AND ETHICS.
  • Does morality depend on religion?
  • Is religion irrelevant or even contrary tomorality?
  • Does religion enhance the moral life? Conclusion.
• 11. THE FACT VALUE PROBLEM.
  • Hume and Moore: the problem classically stated.
  • Ayer and emotivism.
  • Hare and prescriptivism.
  • Naturalism and the fact-value problem.
  • Conclusion.
• 12. MORAL REALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM.
  • Mackies moral skepticism.
  • Harmans moral nihilism.
  • A defense of moral realism.
  • Conclusion.
  • Appendix: How to Read and Write a Philosophy Paper.
  • Glossary.
  • Index