Thinking critically about moral problems / Thomas F. Wall.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Making Moral Decisions --
Part 1. Ethics --
Chapter 1. The General Nature of Ethics --
Ethics and Philosophy --
Ethics, Law, and Religion --
The Divisions of Ethics --
Chapter 2. Ethical Theory --
Value Theory --
Moral and Nonmoral Values --
Monistic and Pluralistic Theories of Value --
Theories of Obligation --
Moral Rules --
Moral Principles --
A Few More Concepts --
Judging the Adequacy of Theories --
Universality --
Consistency --
Simplicity --
Ethical Relativism --
Cultural Relativism --
The Argument for Ethical Relativism --
Consequentialism --
Ethical Egoism --
Evaluating Ethical Egoism --
Psychological Egoism --
Problems with Psychological Egoism --
The Role of Selfishness in Ethics --
Utilitarianism --
Act Utilitarianism --
Rule Utilitarianism --
Evaluating Utilitarianism --
Deontology --
The Ethics of Kant --
The Good Will --
Acting from Duty --
Kant's Theory of Obligation --
The Categorical Imperative --
The First Formulation: Rules Must Be Universal --
The Second Formulation: Respect for Persons --
The Third Formulation: Respect for Autonomy --
Evaluting the Ethics of Kant --
Virtue Ethics --
Virtues and Obligations --
Aristotle: The Good Life --
The Golden Mean --
Evaluating Virtue Ethics --
Other Ethical Theories --
Do No Harm --
The Ethics of Rights --
The Ethics of Care --
Chapter 3. Our Ethical Theory --
A Theory of Obligation --
The Nature of Right Action --
Beneficence --
Justice --
Autonomy --
The Definition of Right Action --
Moral Reasoning --
1. Habitual --
2. Factual --
3. Conflict of Rules --
4. Conflict of Principles --
"Good Reasons" Arguments --
Theory of Value --
Moral Values --
Obligations, Excellence, and Aspiration --
Values and Obligations --
The Primacy of an Ethics of Principles --
Virtue Ethics Supplements an Ethics of Principles --
The Role of Aspiration --
Final Remarks on Ethical Theories --
Chapter 4. The Method of Ethics: Critical Thinking --
The Elements of Critical Thinking --
The Structure of Part 2 --
The Problem --
Facts and Assumptions --
Moral Reasoning --
Evaluation --
Another Perspective --
Part 2. Moral Problems --
Section A. Moral Problems Concerned with Life and Death --
Chapter 5. Capital Punishment --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case for Capital Punishment --
The Case against Capital Punishment --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 6. Abortion --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Personhood Question --
The Abortion Question --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Evaluating the Abortion Arguments --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 7. Physician Assistance in Dying --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case for Physician Assistance in Dying --
The Case against Physician Assistance in Dying --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Section B. Moral Problems Concerned with Social Justice --
Chapter 8. Justice at Home --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case against Affirmative Action --
"Compensatory Justice" Case for Affirmative Action --
The "Present Injustice" Case for Affirmative Action --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 9. Global Justice --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case for the Neomalthusian View --
The Case for the Humanitarian View --
The Case for the Developmentalist View --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 10. The Moral Status of Animals --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case for the Conventional View --
The Case for the Animal Welfare View --
The Case for the Animal Rights View --
The Case for the Animal Liberation View --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Section C. Moral Problems Concerned with Sex and Reproduction --
Chapter 11. Sex, Love, and Marriage --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case for the Liberal View --
The Case for the Moderate View --
The Case for the Conservative View --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 12. The Censorship of Pornography --
The Problem --
Clarifying Concepts --
Formulating the Problem --
Possible Solutions --
Descriptive Ethics --
Assumptions --
Points of View --
Moral Reasoning --
The Case against Censorship --
The Case for Censorship --
Replies to Objections --
Evaluation --
Ethical Theory --
Your Evaluation --
Consequences --
Another Perspective --
Chapter 13. Reproductive Technology --
Types of Reproductive Technologies --
Diagnostic Technologies --
Fertility Technologies --
Genetic Technologies --
Some Moral Implications --
General Moral Issues --
Specific Moral Issues --
The Morality of Human Cloning.