This book arose out of teaching the ethical theory course at the University of San Diego, and it is an example both of speaking to my students and listening to them. Throughout the book, I try to play the role of the welcoming host, introducing newcomers to regular guests and facilitating discussions among them.
There are several aspects of the book that I am particuarly proud of. The chapter on religious ethics was, I think, the first in which an ethical theory book examined not only the standard Western tradition, but also Isslam, Navajo religion, and Buddhism. It was one of the earliest with a sympathetic discussion of the ethics of diversity--a single chapter that eventually grew to two full chapters. Finally, the chapter on Aristotle and the ethics of flourishing is particularly close to my heart. I have been reading Aristotle for over fifty years, and it is a pleasure to share his thoughts with others.
I hope you find it as much of a pleasure to read as I did to write it.
- Preface
- Chapter 01. The Moral Point of View
- Chapter 02. Understanding the Diversity of Moral Beliefs: Relativism, Absolution, and Pluralism
- Chapter 03. The Ethics of Divine Commands: Religious Moralities
- Chapter 04. The Ethics of Selfishness: Egoism
- Chapter 05. The Ethics of Consequences: Utilitarianism
- Chapter 06. The Ethics of Dut: Immanuel Kant
- Chapter 07. The Ethics of Rights: Contemporary Theories
- Chapter 08. Justice: From Plato to Rawls
- Plato's Account of Justice
- Distributive Justice: John Rawls
- Distributive Justice: Non-Rawlsian Theories
- The Distribution of Scarce Goods
- The Distribution of Scarce Medical Goods: Organ Donatinos
- The Distribution of Inequalities
- Egalitarian Conceptions of Distributive Justice
- Welfare Conceptions of Disstributive Justice
- Libertarian Conceptions of Distributive Justice
- Justice and the Politics of Difference: Iris Marion Young
- Justice and the Capabilities Approach: Sen and Nussbaum
- Criminal Justice
- Global Justice
- The Fundamental Character of Justice
- Discussion Questions
- Bibliographical Essay
- Chapter 09. The Ethics of Character: Aristotle and Our Contemporaries
- The Village of Le Chambon
- From the Ethics of Action to the Ethics of Character
- Character and Human Flourishing
- The Structure of Virtues
- Courage
- Compassion
- Self-Love
- Practical Wisdom, Ethical Pluralism, and the Good Life
- The Ethics of Character and the Ethics of Action
- Discussion Questions
- Bibliographical Essau
- Chapter 10. The Ethics of Diversity: Gender
- Chapter 11. The Ethics of Diversity: Race, Ethnicity, and Multiculturalism
- Pluralism, Multiculturalism, and Cosmopolitanism
- The Identity Argument
- What Is Race? Refining Our Understanding
- From Plato to the OMB: Finding the Natural Joints
- The Biological Realist Position no. 1: Visible Appearance
- The Biological Realist Position no. 2: Genetics and Populations
- The Constructivist View
- Raial Reconstructivism
- How Are Race, Ethnicity, and Culture Central to Moral Identity?
- Moral Identity? 318Normative Responses to the Identity Argument
- Cosmopolitanism, Pluralism, and Multiculturalism
- Minority Rights
- Living with Moral Diversity: Ethical Pluralism and the Virtuesof Living in a Multicultural World
- Living Morally
- Discussion Questions
- Bibliographical Essay
- Chapter 12. Conclusion: Applying Ethical Theories: Abortion,Capital Punishment, and Euthanasia
- Glossary
- Index