The essays reprinted in this collection span a period of almost thirty years and include many classic pieces in metaethical and normative ethical theory. Among the subjects covered are the rational ways to decide what is good and what is right, key topics in utilitarianism, and the extent to which character plays a part in moral blame or legal punishment.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Sources; 1. Introductory comments; Part I. Metaethical Preliminaries: 2. Moral philosophy and the analysis of language; 3. Rational desires; 4. The explanation of moral language; 5. Morality and its critics; 6. Rationality, egoism, and morrality; Part II. Normative Ethics: Utilitarianism: 7. Some merits of one form of rule - utilitarianism; 8. Fairness to indirect optimific theories in ethics; 9. Two concepts of utility; Part III. Utilitarianism and Rights: 10. The concepts of a moral right and its function; 11. Utilitarianism and moral rights; Part IV. Determinism, Excuses, and Character: 12. A utilitarian theory of excuses; 13. A motivational theory of excuses in the criminal law; 14. Traits of character: a conceptual analysis; 15. The structure of virtue; Part V. Implications of Utilitarian Theory: 16. The morality and rationality of suicide; 17. Utilitarianism and the rules of war; 18. Public policy and life and death decisions regarding defective newborns; 19. Utilitarianism and welfare legislation; Index.
