Ethics: The Basics, 2nd Edition

John Mizzoni holds a PhD from Temple University, and is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Neumann college in Pennsylvania where he teaches a wide range of philosophy courses. A specialist in moral and environmental philosophy, he has over twenty publications in journals such The Journal of Philosophical Research, The International Journal of Applied Philosophy, Environmental Ethics, Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, The Philosopher's Magazine, Bridges: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Theology, Philosophy, History, and Science, The International Journal of the Humanities, Teaching Ethics and Environmental Philosophy. He is also a semi-professional musician.

"A concise and readable introduction to the major normative ethical theories"—Lily Frank, Neuroethics

• Ethics Self-Orientation ixIntroduction 1Summary of Philosophical Problems about Ethics 61 Relative Ethics or Universal Ethics? 81.1 Relative Ethics 91.2 Universal Ethics 101.3 Cultural Relativism or Ethical Relativism? 111.4 Cultural Relativism and Universal Ethics 121.5 Ethics and Human Nature 131.6 Ethics and Human Rationality 141.7 Relative Ethics or Universal Ethics? 151.8 Conclusion 17Concepts, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 1 18For Further Reading 19Online Resources 19Review Questions 20Discussion Questions 202 Virtue Ethics 222.1 What Are Virtues? 242.2 Aristotle, Happiness, and the Virtues 272.3 A Developmental Model 282.4 Universalism and Relativism Again 312.5 Virtue Ethics: A Guide to Good Behavior 332.6 Pros and Cons of Virtue Ethics 352.7 Conclusion 37Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 2 38For Further Reading 39Online Resources 40Review Questions 40Discussion Questions 403 Natural Law Ethics 423.1 What Is Natural Law and Where Does It Come From? 433.2 The Natural Law and Universal Ethics 463.3 Natural Law Ethics and Human Nature 463.4 Natural Law Ethics and Virtue Ethics 513.5 When Following the Natural Law Is Unclear: Use the Pauline Principle 523.6 When Following the Natural Law Is Unclear: Use the Principle of Double Effect 533.7 Conclusion 56Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 3 58For Further Reading 59Online Resources 60Review Questions 60Discussion Questions 604 Social Contract Ethics 624.1 Continuities and Discontinuities with Natural Law Ethics 634.2 The Principle of Self]Interest (Ethical Egoism) 654.3 The State of Nature 664.4 A Contract Involves Cooperation 684.5 A Contract Involves Rationality 704.6 Common]sense Morality (Properly Understood) 724.7 Social Contract Ethics Applied 744.8 Conclusion 77Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 4 79For Further Reading 80Online Resources 80Review Questions 81Discussion Questions 815 Utilitarian Ethics 825.1 Ethics Is Based on Feelings 835.2 Is Ought: Shorthand for Hume’s Theory of Moral Sentiments 865.3 Feelings, Utility, and Consequences 885.4 Utility and Happiness 915.5 Utilitarianism: Relativist or Universalist? 925.6 Utility and Equality 935.7 Utilitarian Applications 955.8 Conclusion 98Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 5 99For Further Reading 100Online Resources 101Review Questions 101Discussion Questions 1026 Deontological Ethics 1036.1 Duty-centered Ethics 1056.2 Ethics of Freedom and Rationality 1066.3 The Main Deontological Principle: The Categorical Imperative 1076.4 One Form of the Categorical Imperative: The Principle of Autonomy 1106.5 Another Form of the Categorical Imperative: The Principle of Universality 1126.6 Duties Correlate with Rights (Usually) 1146.7 Deontology: Relativist or Universalist? 1176.8 Deontological Applications 1176.9 Conclusion 121Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 6 123For Further Reading 124Online Resources 125Review Questions 125Discussion Questions 1257 Care Ethics 1277.1 Ethics Is Based on Feelings 1297.2 Humans Are Relational Beings 1307.3 Ethics of Principles 1337.4 Virtue Ethics and Partiality 1357.5 Feminine Ethics 1367.6 Care Ethics: Relativist or Universalist? 1387.7 Care Ethics Applications 1407.8 Conclusion 142Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions Introduced in Chapter 7 143For Further Reading 144Online Resources 145Review Questions 145Discussion Questions 1468 Conclusion: Using the Tools of Ethics 1488.1 Living Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 1508.2 Ethical Issues, Both Private and Public 1518.3 Useful Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 1518.4 Ethical Tools Are Not Mechanical Tools 1548.5 How to Use Ethical Tools 1558.6 Pitfalls and Practice 1638.7 Wrap Up 165For Further Reading 166Review Questions 167Discussion Questions 167Appendix 1: Ethical Concepts, Principles, Theories, and Traditions 169Appendix 2: Ethical Principles 177Appendix 3: Notes on Sources 179Appendix 4: Metaethics 184Appendix 5: References 196Index 203