Ethics

Cover
Contents
Preface
Foreword
Chapter 1: Morality and Moral Reasoning
	The Nature of Moral Statements
	The Place of Reason in Ethics
	Personal and Social Ethics
	The Nature and Function of Applied Ethics
		Moral reasoning
		Moral principles and rules
		Moral judgments
		Moral arguments
	Applying Ethical Theories
	References
Chapter 2: A Critical Survey of Indian Ethics
	Purusarthas or Cardinal Values
		Dharma or righteousness
		Artha or wealth
		Kama or desire
		Moksha or liberation
		Varna system or social gradation
	Asrama System or the Stages of Life
	Critical Evaluation
		Untouchability and priest-craft
	Concluding Remarks
		Yama and Niyama
		Yama
			1. Ahimsa or non-violence
			2. Satya or truth
			3. Asteya or non-stealing
			4. Brahmacharya or continence
			5. Aparigraha or non-coveting
		Niyama
			1. Saucha or purity
			2. Santosa or contentment
			3. Tapas or austerity
			4. Svadhyaya or study of the self
			5. Isvara pranidhan or devotion to god
	Critical Evaluation
	The Gita Concept of Niskama Karma
		Niskama karma or action devoid of desire
	Critical Evaluation
	Charvaka Ethics
	Critical Evaluation
	Concluding Remarks
	Gandhian Ethics
	Gandhi’s Concept of Non-violence
	Satyagraha or Non-violent Direct Action
		Satyagraha and passive resistance
		Salient features of satyagraha
			Constructive programme
			Gandhi’s method of conflict resolution
		Strategies and techniques of satyagraha
	Critical Evaluation
	Gandhi’s Vision of Ideal World Social Order
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 3: A Critical Survey of Western Moral Theories
	Nicomachean Ethics
		The three-fold nature of human beings
		Happiness as the supreme good
		Intellectual and moral virtues
		Definition of virtue
			Virtue as a mean between two extremes
			The relation between soul and virtue
			Freedom of the will
			Cardinal virtues
		Critical evaluation
	Cultural Relativism
		Critical evaluation
	Ethical Subjectivism
		The theory of emotivism
		Critical evaluation
	Is Morality Based on Religion?
	The Divine Command Theory
		Critical evaluation
			The theory of natural law
		Critical evaluation
	Psychological Egoism
	Ethical Egoism
		Critical evaluation
	Butler’s Theory of Conscience and Self-love
		The nature of virtue and vice
		The supremacy of conscience
		Self-love and benevolence
		Critical evaluation
		Concluding remarks
	Utilitarian Theory of Morality
		Critical evaluation
	Kant’s Theory of Morality
		Critical evaluation
	The Social Contract Theory of Morality
		Critical evaluation
		Concluding remarks
	References
Chapter 4: The Justification of Civil Disobedience
	Political Obligation
		Socrates and the problem of political obligation
		Social contract theory and the problem of political obligation
		The conflict between legal and moral obligations
	The Nature and Content of Civil Disobedience
		The appeal to conscience
			Justification of civil disobedience
		Critical evaluation
			When is a law really a law?
		How is civil disobedience different from other kinds of law breaking?
		Is the citizen under an obligation to obey the unjust laws of the state?
		Is civil disobedience a legitimate act?
		Does civil disobedience provide basis for anarchy?
		Is prosecution necessary against a civil disobedient?
		Concluding remarks
	What is the Extent of Political Obligation?
		Is civil disobedience in a democratic state justifiable?
	References
Chapter 5: Preferential Treatment and Moral Justification
	The Nature and Content of Preferential Treatment
		Preferential treatment and reverse discrimination
		Preferential treatment and compensatory justice
		Utilitarian approach
	Controversies about Preferential Treatment
		Arguments in favour of preferential treatment
		Arguments against preferential treatment
	Critical Evaluation
	Justification of Preferential Treatment
	The Consequences of Past Discrimination
		Does preferential treatment involve unjust treatment to members of non-preferred groups?
		The deficiencies involved in preferential treatment
		Preferential treatment and the problem of creamy layer
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 6: The Need for Environmental Ethics
	Man-Nature Relation
		The impact of Judeo-Christian tradition
		Paganism and Christianity
	The Impact of Age of Reason
	The Impact of Technology
	The Impact of Darwinism
		Anthropocentric morality
		Non-anthropocentric morality
	The Land Ethic
	Deep Ecology
		Biocentric equality
		The basic principles of deep ecology
	The Value of Wilderness
		Duty to future generations
	The Need for Environmental Ethics
	Critical Evaluation
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 7: The Justification of Capital Punishment
	Crime and Punishment
	The Nature of Punishment
	How is the State Justified in Inflicting Penalties on Criminals?
	Theories of Punishment
		Retributive theory of punishment
		How does Kant justify capital punishment?
			What does it mean to treat people as rational beings?
			How are rational beings responsible for their actions?
	Utilitarian Theory of Punishment
		On what grounds utilitarianism justifies punishment?
		How does utilitarianism justify capital punishment?
	Controversies on Capital Punishment
		Arguments in favour of capital punishment
		Arguments against capital punishment
	Critical Evaluation
		Can a murderer, who has taken away the ‘right to life’ of the victim, claim his own ‘right to life’? is it not a moral contradiction to make such a claim for his own right to life?
		Is death penalty primitive, uncivilized, cruel and revengeful act?
		Does the death penalty actually deter other potential criminals from committing serious crimes?
		Are the laws of punishment and distribution of punishmentone and the same? Are they not two different aspects of punishment?
		Is the life of a murderer more sacred, worthy and valuable than the life of a victim?
		Is the death penalty justifiable for all crimes of homicide? What are its limitations?
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 8: The Problem of Abortion
	Why Pregnant Women Seek Abortions?
	Biological Development of the Foetus
	Ethical Acceptability of Abortion
		Conservative view of abortion
		Liberal view of abortion
		Moderate view of abortion
	The Moral Status of the Foetus
	What is a Person? what Characteristics Entitle a Being to be Considered as a Person?
	Arguments in Support of Abortion
	Arguments Against Abortion
	What is a Moral Community?
	The Hindu View of Abortion
	The Christian View of Abortion
	The Catholic View of Abortion
	The Protestant View of abortion
	The Jewish View of Abortion
	The Muslim View of Abortion
	The Law on Abortion—United States Supreme Court Ruling
	The Indian Law on Abortion
	The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
		Critical evaluation
		Argument from the doctrine of ensoulment
		Argument from the theory of human genetic code
		Argument from the sanctity of human life
		Argument from the potentiality of the foetus
		The argument from promise
		Argument from the rights of women
	Justification of Abortion
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 9: The Justification of Voluntary Euthanasia
	What Does Euthanasia Mean?
	Types of Euthanasia
	Ethical Acceptability of Euthanasia
	Intentional and Unintentional Termination of Life
	The Controversy Over AMA. Statement
	Reasons Shown in Support of Euthanasia
	Reasons Shown Against Euthanasia
	Critical Evaluation
	Arguments Against Euthanasia
		The problem of meaningful consent
			Is it reasonable to argue that expressions of written consent made long before ought not be given much importance in cases of terminally ill patients?
			The argument from nature
			Does a terminally ill patient have an inclination to prolong his life?
			The argument from self-interest
			The argument from practical effects
			The argument from reason
			Is not the artificial prolongation of the life of a terminally ill patient ‘playing god’?
			If human life is the gift of god, why does god insist upon his gift being kept forever regardless of its bad consequences to the recipient?
			Does the sixth commandment prohibit all forms of killing?
			The argument from the ‘Wedge Principle’
			Does legislation of euthanasia obviously lead to undesirable consequences?
	Arguments in Support of Euthanasia
		The argument from mercy
		The argument from the Golden Rule
		The argument from respect to individual autonomy and rights
		The argument from quality of life
		Is it morally permissible to terminate the life of a person in acute pain and suffering for the sake of relieving him from agony?
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Chapter 10: Gender Discrimination and Unequal Treatment of Women
	What is Gender Discrimination?
	What Does Equality Mean?
	What Does Equality between the Sexes Mean?
	What Factors are Restricting Women in the Participation of Various Activities of Social Life?
		1. Traditional thinking and social conditioning
		2. Socialization of children
		3. Restrictions on social mobility and differential treatment
		4. Traditional division of labour
		5. Economic status
		6. Purdah or seclusion
		7. Illiteracy and child marriages
	The Status and Position of Women in Hinduism
	The Status and Position of Women in Islam
		Islamic faith
		The institution of marriage
		The subjugation of women in Islam
	Islam and the Purdah System
	The Shah Bano Controversy and the Uniform Civil Code
	Freedom Struggle and Liberation of Indian Women
	The Empowerment of Women in the Political Sphere
	What is Political Participation?
		Measures suggested for improving women’s participation in politics
		Empowerment of women in the political sphere
	Critical Evaluation
	Concluding Remarks
	References
Bibliography
Index