Morality, Utilitarianism, and Rights

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.