Ethics: Theory and Practice

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 The Nature of Morality
	Learning objectives
	What is Philosophy and ethics’ relationship to it?
	Definition of Key Terms
	Approaches to the Study of Morality
	Morality and its applications
	Where does Morality come From?
	Customary or Traditional and reflective Morality
	Morality, Law, and religion
	Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral development
	Why Should human Beings Be Moral?
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 2 Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories of Morality
	Learning objectives
	Psychological Egoism
	Ethical Egoism
	Utilitarianism
	Difficulty with consequentialist Theories in General
	Care ethics
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 3 Nonconsequentialist (Deontological) Theories of Morality
	Learning objectives
	Act Nonconsequentialist Theories
	Rule Nonconsequentialist Theories
	General Criticisms of Nonconsequentialist Theories
	Conclusions
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 4 Virtue Ethics
	Learning Objectives
	Definition of Terms
	Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
	Confucian Moral Self-cultivation
	Confucian Role Ethics
	Contemporary Analysis of Virtue Ethics
	Who is the ideal Virtuous Person?
	Vice and Virtue
	Conclusions
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 5 Absolutism Versus Relativism
	Learning Objectives
	The Meanings of Absolute
	The Meaning of Relative
	Cultural Relativism and Cultural Absolutism
	Propositions and Truth
	Conclusion
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 6 Freedom Versus Determinism
	Learning Objectives
	The Meaning of Determinism
	Types and Theories of Determinism
	Fatalism and Hard and Soft Determinism
	Indeterminism
	Criticisms of Hard Determinism and Arguments for Freedom
	Conclusion: Soft Determinism
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 7 Reward and Punishment
	Learning Objectives
	Definition of Key Terms
	Reward and Punishment in Relationship to Justice
	Elements of Justice
	Reward
	Theories of How to Reward
	John Rawls and His Theory of Justice
	Punishment
	Theories of Punishment
	Is a Synthesis Possible?
	Human Rights
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 8 Setting Up a Moral System: Basic Assumptions and Basic Principles
	Learning Objectives
	Conflicting General Moral Issues
	Basic Assumptions
	Basic Principles, Individual Freedom, and Their Justification
	Priority of the Basic Principles
	A General Way of Determining Priority—Two Categories
	How the System of Humanitarian Ethics Works
	Conclusion
	Chapter Summary
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Note
Chapter 9 The Taking of Human Life
	Learning Objectives
	The Taking of Human Life
	Suicide
	Defense of the Innocent (The Self Included)
	War
	Terrorism
	Capital Punishment
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on the Taking of Human Life
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 10 Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
	Learning Objectives
	Definition of Terms
	Current Legal Status of Mercy Death and Mercy Killing
	Allowing Someone to Die
	Mercy Death
	Mercy Killing
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 11 Abortion
	Learning objectives
	Introduction to the Abortion Issue
	When does human Life Begin?
	Arguments Against Abortion
	Arguments for abortion
	The More Moderate Positions on abortion
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Abortion
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 12 Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
	Learning objectives
	Definition of Key Terms
	Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views
	Lying
	Cheating
	Breaking Promises
	Stealing
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 13 Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality
	Learning objectives
	Major aspects of human Sexuality
	The Meaning and Purposes of human Sexuality
	Premarital Sex
	Sex in Marriage-Type Relationships (including Nonlegal)
	Masturbation
	Pornography
	Prostitution
	Sexual Perversion or “Unnatural” Sexual activity
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 14 Bioethics—Ethical Issues in Medicine
	Learning objectives
	What is Bioethics?
	Health Care Professionals and Patients and Their Families— Rights and Obligations
	Truth Telling and Informed Consent
	Intercultural Bioethics
	Confidentiality
	Guilt and Innocence in Treating Patients
	Ethical issues in Medicine
	Stem Cell Research
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Bioethical Issues
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Chapter 15 Business and Media Ethics
	Learning objectives
	Introduction
	Rights and Obligations in Business
	Two Ways of approaching rights and obligations in Business
	The Moderate Position
	Justice, Truth Telling, and honesty in Business
	Ethical issues in Business
	Sexual Harassment
	The new Global economy and the International Business Scene
	Media ethics
	Corporate Greed—Enron
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Business and Media Ethics
	Notes
Chapter 16 Environmental Ethics
	Learning objectives
	Definition of Key Terms
	Nature and Morality
	Environmental Ethical Issues
	Our Attitude Toward Nature and What Lies Behind it
	Arguments for Use and exploitation of the Natural Environment
	Arguments Against the Use and Exploitation of Nature
	Moderate Position
	Criteria for Animal Rights
	Ways of Dealing with Animal Rights
	Use of Animals for Food
	Use of Animals for Experimentation
	Killing Animals for Sport
	Protection of Endangered Species
	Non-Western Perspectives on Environmental issues
	Conclusion
	Chapter Summary
	Ethics Problem
	Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Environmental Ethics
	Critical Thinking Questions
	Notes
Appendices
	Introduction
	Appendix I: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of the Taking of Human Life
	Appendix II: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
	Appendix III: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Abortion
	Appendix IV: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
	Appendix V: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Human Sexuality
	Appendix VI: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Medicine (Bioethics)
	Appendix VII: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Business (Business and Media Ethics)
	Appendix VIII: Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Environmental Ethics
Supplementary Reading
Glossary
Index