Ethics: Theory and Practice, 10th Edition

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. 

Preface

 

Chapter 1 The Nature of Morality

Objectives

What is Philosophy and Ethics’ Relationship to It?

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Excersices for Review

Discussion Questions

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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 Way of Determining Priority—Two Categories

How the System of Humanitarian Ethics Works

Conclusion

Chapter Summary

Exercises for Review

Discussion Questions

Note

Research Navigator™

 

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 Major Ethical Theories on the Taking of Human Life

Suicide

Defense of the Innocent

War and Terrorism

Capital Punishment

Reader Reactions

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

Chapter 12 Lying, Cheating, Breaking Promises, and Stealing

Objectives

Introduction

Definitions 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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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, Human Sexuality, and Marriage

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

Chapter 14 Bioethics—Ethical Issues in Medicine

Objectives

Introduction and Definition of Terms

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

Chapter 16 Environmental Ethics

Objectives

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

Views of Major Ethical Theories on Environmental Ethics

Notes

Research Navigator™

 

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