In this general introduction to ethical theory, Chapter I introduces the reader to philosophical thinking, philosophy's domain, the value of philosophy, and the nature of philosophical ethics. The second chapter examines various impediments to ethical theory including nihilism, determinism, skeptism, relativism, emotivism, egoism, and divine command theory. With these impediments surmounted the subsequent chapters focus on major ethical theories including natural law, virtue, contract, deontological, utilitarianism, existentialism, evolutionary, and feminist. Each chapter systematically presents, critiques, and assesses both classical and contemporary formulations of theory in language accessible to the uninitiated. The author neither dismisses nor advocates particular theories but gives them a fair hearing in a rational forum. The final chapter presents the author's own moral theory in a straightforward but non-dogmatic manner.

In this accessible and instructive work, Birsch introduces the main ethical theories in Western philosophy using a procedural approach that enables readers to make justified ethical evaluations of cases and issues. This novel treatment provides a well-rounded overview of each theoretical approach and attempts to refute the widely held opinion that there are no justified or correct solutions to moral problems. Outstanding features: • Introduces each ethical theory with a discussion of its philosophical starting point • Explains the reasoning and conclusions crucial to each theoretical approach • Discusses each ethical theory’s view of moral significance and moral equality • Develops an ethical procedure based on an ethical theory’s moral rules and principles then applies the procedure to relevant cases, resulting in justified or correct moral solutions for that particular ethical theory • Presents the strengths and weaknesses of each ethical theory • Provides a discussion of the United Nations human rights morality and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights • Includes review questions and additional assignments for further exploration and application of ethical theories

In this accessible and enlightening work, Birsch introduces the main ethical theories in Western philosophy using a procedural approach that enables readers to make ethical evaluations of cases and issues. This novel treatment provides a well-rounded overview of each theoretical approach and attempts to refute the widely held opinion that there are no correct solutions to moral problems.

Why Itâ¬"s Hard to Be Good by Donald Palmer is a text for Ethical Theory and Ethical Problems courses and is ideal for instructors using primary source readings. Through the use of cartoons and humor Palmer makes the study of ethics easier!

The Handbook is a comprehensive reference work in ethical theory consisting of commissioned articles by leading scholars. The first part treats meta-ethics and the second part normative ethical theory. As with all the Oxford Handbooks, the collection is designed to achieve three goals: exposition of central ideas, criticism of other approaches, and defenses of distinct points of view.

We often make judgments about good and bad, right and wrong. Philosophical ethics is the critical examination of these and other concepts central to how we evaluate our own and each others' behavior and choices. This text examines some of the main threads of discussion on these topics that have developed over the last couple of millenia, mostly within the Western cultural tradition.The book is designed to be used alone or alongside a reader of historical and contemporary original sources, and is freely available in web and digital formats at https: //press.rebus.community/intro-to-phil-ethics/. If you are adopting or adapting this book for a course, please let us know on our adoption form for the Introduction to Philosophy open textbook series: https: //docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwf2E7bRGvWefjhNZ07kgpgnNFxVxxp-iidPE5gfDBQNGBGg/viewform?usp=sf_link. Cover art by Heather Salazar; cover design by Jonathan Lashley. One of nine books in the Introduction to Philosophy open textbook serie

Theories of Ethics offers a comprehensive survey of the major schools and figures in moral philosophy, from Socrates to the present day. Written entirely in non-technical language, it aims to be introductory without being elementary, so that readers may quickly engage with selected readings from classic sources. The writings of major philosophers are explained in a structured exploration of recurrently important issues about right and wrong, good and evil, social relations and religious meaning. This book is a radical revision of Gordon Grahamâe(tm)s Eight Theories of Ethics (Routledge 2004). A hallmark of the new edition is the incorporation of primary readings into the text itself, making the book suitable as a stand-alone publication for any ethics course or for anyone wanting to know the history and arguments or moral philosophy. Primary sources include extracts from Aristotle, Camus, Hume, Kant, Locke, Mill, Nietzsche, Plato, Reid, and Sartre, as well as Aldo Leopold and James Lovelock. The new edition also offers extended treatment of the objective/subjective debate, social contract theory, Nietzsche on morality, recent interpretations of Kant, the relation between morality and the existence of God, and a full chapter on environmental ethics.