Principles of Moral Philosophy

Classic and Contemporary Approaches

Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes

Principles of Moral Philosophy

Classic and Contemporary Approaches

Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes

Description

Principles of Moral Philosophy: Classic and Contemporary Approaches covers all the major theories in normative ethics--relativism, egoism, divine command theory, natural law, Kantian ethics, consequentialism, pluralism, social contract theory, virtue ethics, the ethics of care, and particularism--and also includes sections on applied ethics and metaethics. It provides students with a balanced introduction to an array of approaches to topics in normative ethics, offering traditional theories alongside criticisms of them. The readings are enhanced by a variety of pedagogical features including a general introduction, an introduction to each reading, study questions after each reading, and a glossary of key terms.

With one-third of its contemporary readings authored by women, Principles of Moral Philosophy is the most inclusive and balanced normative ethics reader available. A password-protected Instructor's Manual is available on the book's Ancillary Resource Center.

Principles of Moral Philosophy

Classic and Contemporary Approaches

Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes

Preface
PART 1. INTRODUCTION
The Anatomy of Normative Ethics
Andrew T. Forcehimes
PART 2. RELATIVISM
Moral Relativism: A Defense
Ruth Benedict
Moral Isolationism
Mary Midgley
PART 3. EGOISM
The Republic
Plato
In Defense of Egoism
Jesse Kalin
Egoism and Moral Skepticism
James Rachels
PART 4. DIVINE COMMAND THEORY
God and Morality
Steven M. Cahn
A Modified Divine Command Theory
Robert M. Adams
PART 5. NATURAL LAW
Summa Contra Gentiles
Thomas Aquinas
Natural Law
John Finnis
Natural Law
Russ Shafer-Landau
PART 6. KANTIAN ETHICS
Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals
Immanuel Kant
Kantianism
Shelly Kagan
On the Value of Acting from the Motive of Duty
Barbara Herman
Kant's Formula of Humanity
Christine M. Korsgaard
Moral Luck
Thomas Nagel
PART 7. CONSEQUENTIALISM
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Jeremy Bentham
Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill
The Meaning and Proof of Utilitarianism
Henry Sidgwick
Well-Being
Shelly Kagan
Objective and Subjective Consequentialism
Julia Driver
Rule-consequentialism versus Act-consequentialism
Brad Hooker
A Critique of Utilitarianism
Bernard Williams
PART 8. PLURALISM
The Right and the Good
W. D. Ross
An Unconnected Heap of Duties?
David McNaughton
How Strong Is this Obligation?
Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
PART 9. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
Leviathan
Thomas Hobbes
A Theory of Justice
John Rawls
Why Contractarianism?
David Gauthier
What We Owe to Each Other
T. M. Scanlon
Can Contract Theory Ground Morality?
Philip Pettit
PART 10. VIRTUE ETHICS
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle
Virtue Ethics
Julia Annas
Normative Virtue Ethics
Rosalind Hursthouse
Virtue and Right
Robert N. Johnson
PART 11. THE ETHICS OF CARE
Moral Orientation and Moral Development
Carol Gilligan
Beyond Caring
Marilyn Friedman
The Ethics of Care
Virginia Held
PART 12. PARTICULARISM
Existentialism Is a Humanism
Jean-Paul Sartre
Particularism, Universalism. and Commonsense Morality
Shelly Kagan
PART 13. APPLIED ETHICS
A Defense of Abortion
Judith Jarvis Thomson
An Argument that Abortion Is Wrong
Don Marquis
Virtue Theory and Abortion
Rosalind Hursthouse
Famine, Affluence, and Morality
Peter Singer
Reply to Singer
Travis Timmerman
The Trolley Problem
Judith Jarvis Thomson
The Altruism Puzzle
Steven M. Cahn, Harry Brighouse, and Robert B. Talisse
PART 14. METAETHICS
A Treatise of Human Nature
David Hume
Principia Ethica
G. E. Moore
Ethics and Observation
Gilbert Harman
Realism
Michael Smith
Morality as a System of Hypothetical Imperatives
Philippa Foot
The Last Word
Thomas Nagel
Glossary
Index

Principles of Moral Philosophy

Classic and Contemporary Approaches

Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes

Author Information

Steven M. Cahn is Professor of Philosophy at The City University of New York Graduate Center. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books. Most recently, he coauthored Happiness and Goodness: Philosophical Reflections on Living Well (2015). Dr. Cahn is the editor of The World of Philosophy (OUP, 2015), Ethics, Sixth Edition (OUP, 2015), Exploring Philosophy, Fifth Edition (OUP, 2014), Political Philosophy, Third Edition (OUP, 2014), and Exploring Ethics, Third Edition (OUP, 2013).

Andrew T. Forcehimes is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has published articles in Ethics, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, Utilitas, and Res Publica. He is also the coeditor, with Larry May, of Morality, Jus Post Bellum, and International Law (2012).

Principles of Moral Philosophy

Classic and Contemporary Approaches

Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes

Reviews and Awards

"Principles of Moral Philosophy is a superior book for ethics classes. The introduction complements the book's structure very well, preparing students for each new ethical theory and showing how they fare against each other. The book also offers readings in applied ethics. The greater number of selections both by women and against tradition is a strength of the book."--Joshua Johnston, Auburn University

"This anthology covers an impressive range of central topics in normative ethics."--Fernando Zapata, Hunter College, City University of New York

"Cahn and Forcehimes have compiled excellent readings in Principles of Moral Philosophy, including sections on egoism, divine command, and relativism. This volume is strong in its treatment of consequentialism and Kantian ethics and also includes an engaging section on applied ethics."--Paul Pistone, Palomar College

"This concise collection of essential readings provides the perfect collection for a class focused on normative ethical theory. It maintains the importance of historical sources without compromising the breadth of contemporary literature. The introduction does a great job of introducing the role of reason, principle, and justification in normative ethics. Turning to these classic writings will provide a rich and comprehensive introductory ethics course."--Kenneth Shockley, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

"The strengths of Principles of Moral Philosophy include its breadth (which isn't overwhelming) and the mix of historical and contemporary readings. To date, there hasn't been anything to compete with Timmons' Conduct and Character, and this does. It also has greater breadth at a better price point."--Ellen M. Maccarone, Gonzaga University

"This is a very good collection that covers the important theories effectively. The selections are very strong, with a nice balance of classic or well-known pieces and newer or less-often-used ones. The introduction does a nice job of introducing the basic questions of normative ethics in a way that illustrates how philosophical questions can arise in familiar and even quotidian contexts. It also introduces more technical vocabulary effectively and naturally and without making things too difficult. It functions rather like Timmons' introduction to Conduct and Character, though it probably works better."--Dennis Arjo, Johnson County Community College

"I like that Principles of Moral Philosophy takes a pro/con approach to the different topics it addresses. It includes most of the standard primary source texts and contains some promising secondary articles on Kant and Aristotle."--Greg Lynch, North Central College