What Is Ethics? by James P. Sterba -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Front Matter Author’s Note 1 Introduction

The challenge of ethical relativism But is it true? Analysis of the case of rape and marriage Analysis of the case of widows and suttee Analysis of the case of female circumcision Our six purported cases of ethical relativism Conclusion Notes

2 Why be Moral?

Ethical egoism Appealing to publicity Paralleling egoism and racism Appealing to consistency Is there no way to meet the challenge of Universal Ethical Egoism? Morality as Compromise Conclusion Notes

3 Consequentialism

Introducing consequentialist ethics An implication of consequentialist ethics: sacrificing the few for the many Osama bin Laden and terrorism Hypothetical examples An objection to consequentialist ethics: never do evil Refining the objection: necessary harm and independent reasons Notes

4 Nonconsequentialism

Kantian nonconsequentialism Aristotelian nonconsequentialism Ayn Rand’s Aristotelian ethics Notes

5 Reconciliation

The first reconciliation The second reconciliation The third reconciliation Conclusion Notes

6 Morality and Religion

The Euthyphro question Medieval developments of divine command theory Problems for divine command theory Radically modified divine command theory Religion and the public arena Ethical norms and the problem of evil Noninterference Conclusion Notes

7 Conclusion

Two challenges Two conceptions Reconciliation Ethics and religion Practicing ethics Summing up Notes

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