Thinking critically about moral problems /
Thomas F. Wall.
- Belmont, CA : Wadsworth, c2003.
- xii, 465 p. ; 24 cm.
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.