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With a clear presentation, Ethics: Theory and Practice educates readers about ethical theory and has them apply what they learn to specific classic and contemporary moral problems (lying, cheating, establishing ethical business practices, honoring ethical obligations in medicine, etc.).
Jacques P. Thiroux first wrote this text 1977 in order to educate readers about ethical theory and its applications in a way that beginning students could understand. The result was an accessible text that isn't too technical and doesn't plunge into complex readings without sufficient background. The text is fully updated with global issues and non-Western ethical views. Keith W. Krasemann now continues Thiroux's efforts of making Ethical Ideas accesible to students. Besides updating the foundations of the text, Krasemann incoporates new and relevant material, most of which is often unique only to this text.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 The Nature of Morality
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
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 2 Consequentialist (Teleological) Theories of Morality
Objectives
Psychological Egoism
Ethical Egoism
Utilitarianism
Difficulty with Consequentialist Theories in General
Care Ethics
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 3 Nonconsequentialist (Deontological) Theories of Morality
Objectives
Act Nonconsequentialist Theories
Rule Nonconsequentialist Theories
General Criticisms of Nonconsequentialist Theories
Conclusions
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 4 Virtue Ethics
Objectives
Definition of Terms
Aristotle’s Nichomachean 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
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 5 Absolutism Versus Relativism
Objectives
The Meanings of Absolute
The Meaning of Relative
Cultural Relativism and Cultural Absolutism
Propositions and Truth
Conclusion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 6 Freedom Versus Determinism
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
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 7 Reward and Punishment
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
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 8 Setting Up a Moral System: Basic Assumptions and Basic Principles
Objectives
Conflicting General Moral Issues
Basic Assumptions
Basic Principles, Individual Freedom, and Their Justification
Priority of the Basic Principles
A General Wayof Determining Priority–Two Categories
How the System of Humanitarian Ethics Works
Conclusion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Discussion Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 9 The Taking of Human Life
Objectives
The Taking of Human Life
Suicide
Defense of the Innocent (The Self Included)
Cases for Study and Discussion
War
Terrorism
Cases for Study and Discussion
Capital Punishment
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on the Taking of Human Life
Suicide
Defense of the Innocent
War and Terrorism
Capital Punishment
Reader Reactions
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 10 Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
Objectives
Definition of Terms
Current Legal Status of Mercy Death and Mercy Killing
Allowing Someone to Die
Cases for Study and Discussion
Mercy Death
Cases for Study and Discussion
Mercy Killing
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 11 Abortion
Objectives
Introduction to the Abortion Issue
When Does Human Life Begin?
Arguments Against Abortion
Arguments For Abortion
The More Moderate Positions on Abortion
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Abortion
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 12 Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
Objectives
Definition of Key Terms
Nonconsequentialist and Consequentialist Views
Lying
Cases for Study and Discussion
Cheating
Cases for Study and Discussion
Breaking Promises
Cases for Study and Discussion
Stealing
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 13 Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality
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
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Morality, Marriage, and Human Sexuality
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 14 Bioethics–Ethical Issues in Medicine
Objectives
What Is Bioethics?
Health Care Professionals and Patients and Their Families–Rights and Obligations
Truth Telling and Informed Consent
Confidentiality
Guilt and Innocence in Treating Patients
Ethical Issues in Medicine
Stem Cell Research
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Bioethical Issues
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 15 Business and Media Ethics
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
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Business and Media Ethics
Suggested Readings
Ethics Problem
Notes
Chapter 16 Environmental Ethics
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
Cases for Study and Discussion
Chapter Summary
Exercises for Review
Suggested Readings
Views of the Major Ethical Theories on Environmental Ethics
Ethics Problem
Notes
Appendixes
Introduction
Appendix 1:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of the Taking of Human Life
Appendix 2:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Allowing Someone to Die, Mercy Death, and Mercy Killing
Appendix 3:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Abortion
Appendix 4:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing
Appendix 5:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to the Moral Problems of Human Sexuality
Appendix 6:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Medicine (Bioethics)
Appendix 7:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Moral Problems in Business (Business and Media Ethics)
Appendix 8:Applying Humanitarian Ethics to Environmental Ethics
Supplementary Reading
Glossary
Index
Review :
"I personally think that the text is quite comprehensive. It does a good job of covering both the theoretical bases for ethics (in the first half of the text) and the current issues and areas of contention in ethics (in the remaining portion of the text)."
-Instructor Eugene Muhammad, Triton Community College
"Fundamental concepts, various theories, and a diverse set of issues are all well-covered, thoughtfully explained, and opposing points of view are considered."
-Professor William Ferraiolo, San Joaquin Delta College
"This is my favorite ethics text and is far better than any I have worked with. The variety of ethical theories and the depth of discussion for critical topics makes this a first choice."
-Professor Russell Fail, Kaplan University
