About the Book
"Analyzing Moral Issues" combines the appeal and strengths of the moral problems approach with a solid foundation in moral theory and moral reasoning. In addition to providing an overview of some of the major moral issues in our society, this text/reader gives readers the hands-on skills necessary to recognize and analyze moral arguments, and introduces them to both Western and non-Western moral theories.
Table of Contents:
Part I. Introduction to Moral Philosophy 1. Moral Theory Moral Philosophy / What Is the Purpose of Moral Theories? / The Types of Moral Theories / Relativism in Ethics / Moving Beyond Ethical Relativism / Moral Theory and Praxis / Morality and Religion / Universality and Religious Ethics / Universal Moral Theories / Natural Law Theory / Utilitarianism / Deontology: The Ethics of Duty / Rights-Based Ethics / Virtue Ethics / Conclusion / Aristotle, from Nicomachean Ethics / Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theological / *John Stuart Mill, from Utilitarianism / Immanuel Kant, from Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Ethics / John Rawls, from A Theory of Justice / John Locke, Two Treatises of Civil Government / Ayn Rand, "Man's Rights" / Nel Noddings, from Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education / Confucius, from The Analects / P. Don Premasiri, "The Relevance of the Noble Eightfold Path to Contemporary Society" 2. Moral Reasoning The Three Levels of Thinking / Resistance / Recognizing Arguments / Avoiding Logical Fallacies / Critical Reading Skills Part II. Analyzing Moral Issues 3. Abortion Background / The History of Abortion in the United States / The U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade Decision / Abortion and Religion / Stages of Fetal Development / Methods of Abortion / The Moral Issues / Can the Abortion Controversy Ever Be Resolved? / Judith Jarvis Thomson, "A Defense of Abortion" / John T. Noonan Jr., "An Almost Absolute Value in History" / Mary Anne Warren, "The Moral Significance of Birth" / *Don Marquis, "Why Abortion is Immoral' / Judith A. Boss, "Pro-Child/Pro-Choice: An Exercise in Doublethink?" / Case Studies 4. Genetic Engineering and Cloning The History of Genetic Engineering / The Human Genome Project / Cloning and Genetic Engineering / Moral Issues of Genetic Engineering and Cloning / Resolving the Debate Over Genetic Engineering and Cloning / *Matt Ridley, "The New Eugenics" / *W. French Andersen, "Genetics and Human Malleability" / John A. Robertson, "The Question of Human Cloning" / Leon Kass, "The Wisdom of Repugnance: Why We Should Ban the Cloning of Humans" / *Lori Andrews and Dorothy Nelkins, "Whose Body Is It Anyway? Dispute Over Body Tissue in a Biotechnology Age." / *Richard Seed, "Human Clones for Sale" 5. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide What Is Euthanasia? / The Philosophers on Euthanasia / The Contemporary Debate over Euthanasia / Euthanasia Legislation / Physician-Assisted Suicide / The Hospice Movement / The Moral Issues / Can The Euthanasia Issue Be Resolved? / James Rachels, "Active and Passive Euthanasia" / Margaret Pabst Battin, "The Case for Euthanasia" / Daniel Callahan, "'Aid-in-Dying': The Social Dimensions" / John Hardwig, "Is There a Duty to Die?" / Susan M. Wolf, "A Feminist Critique of Physician-Assisted Suicide" / Case Studies 6. Punishment and the Death Penalty History of the Death Penalty / The Death Penalty Today / The Death Penalty and Juvenile Offenders / The Medicalization of Executions / The Philosophers on the Death Penalty / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Ernest Van Den Haag, "The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense of Capital Punishment" / Christopher W. Morris, "Punishment and Loss of Moral Standing" / Hugo Adam Bedau, "Capital Punishment" / *Jeffrey Reiman, "Why the Death Penalty Should be Abolished" / Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking / Case Studies 7. Drug and Alcohol Use What Is a Drug? / The History of Drug and Alcohol Use / Legal and Illegal Drugs / Drug and Alcohol Use Today / Drug and Alcohol Use Among College Students / Drug in Sports / The Disease Model of Addiction / The Moral Model of Addiction / The Philosophers on Drug and Alcohol Abuse / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Thomas Szasz, "The Ethics of Addiction" / James Q. Wilson, "Against the Legalization of Drugs" / Douglas N. Husak, "A Moral Right to Use Drugs" / Thomas H. Murrary, "Drugs, Sports, and Ethics" / Case Studies 8. Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriages Background and Key Terms / Religious and Cultural Attitudes Toward Homosexuality / Homosexuality, the Law, and Same-Sex Marriage / The Disease Model of Homosexuality / The Philosophers on Homosexuality / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Michael Ruse, "Is Homosexuality Bad Sexuality?" / John M. Finnis, "Law, Morality, and 'Sexual Orientation'" / Micahle Nava and Robert Dawidoff, "The Case for Gay Marriage" / Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, Marriage's True Ends / Cheshire Calhoun, "Family's Outlaws: Rethinking the Connections Between Feminism, Lesbianism, and the Family" / Case Studies 9. Freedom of Speech / What Is "Freedom of Speech"? Limitations on Freedom of Speech / The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution / Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace / Hate Speech as Protected Speech / Speech Codes on College Campuses / The Philosophers on Freedom of Speech / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Charles R. Lawrence III, "If He Hollers Let Him Go: Regulating Racist Speech on Campus" / Jonathan Rauch, "In Defense of Prejudice: Why Incendiary Speech Must Be Protected" / John Taylor, "Are You Politically Correct?" / Alan M. Dershowitz, "Political Correctness, Speech Codes, and Diversity" / *Cass R. Sunstein, "The First Amendment in Cyberspace" / Case Studies 10. Sexism, Pornography, and Violence Against Women Sexism and Gender Inequalities / The Philosophers on Sexism and Women / Pornography / "Pornography is the Theory and Rape is the Practice" / Sexual Harassment / Domestic Violence / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Readings / Catherine A. MacKinnon, "Pornography, Civil Rights, and Speech" / Lois Pineau, "Date Rape: A Feminist Analysis" / Katie Roiphe, "Reckless Eyeballing: Sexual Harassment on Campus" / Judith A. Boss, "Throwing Pearls to the Swine: Women, Forgiveness, and the Unrepentant Abuser" / Steven Goldberg, "Male Aggression and the Attainment of Power, Authority, and Status" / Case Studies 11. Racism and Affirmative Action The Philosophers on Racism / The Roots of American Racism / Racism Today / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Shelby Steele, "I'm Black, You're White, Who's Innocent?" / Jorge Garcia, "The Heart of Racism" / Bernard R. Boxill, "The Color-Blind Principle" / Michael Levin, "Race, Biology, and Justice" / Uma Narayan, "Colonialism and Its Others: Considerations on Rights and Care Discourses" / Case Studies 12. Nonhuman Animals and the Environment The Legal and Moral Status of Nonhuman Animals / The Legal and Moral Status of the Environment / The Philosophers on the Moral Value of Nonhuman Animals and the Environment / Animal Farming, Environmental Degradation, and Vegetarianism / Pollution and Global Warming / Animal Experimentation / Moral Issues / Conclusion / Tom Regan, "The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism" / Jan Narveson, "Animal Rights Revisited" / Peter Singer, from Animal Liberation / Carl Cohen, "Do Animals Have Rights?" / *Aldo Leopold, "The Land Ethic" / *Bill Devall and George Sessions, "Deep Ecology" / *Richard Watson, "A Critique of Anti-Anthropocentric Ethics" / *Karen J. Warren, "The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism" / Case Studies Appendix I: Writing a Paper in Moral Philosophy Appendix II: Debating Moral Issues
