This accessible overview of classical and modern moral theory with short readings provides comprehensive coverage of ethics and unique coverage of rights, justice, liberty and law. Real-life cases introduce each chapter. While the book's content is theoretical rather than applied ethics, Beauchamp consistently applies the theories to practical moral problems. Aristotle, Hume, Kant, and Mill are at the book’s core and they are placed in the context of moral philosophical controversies of the last 30 years. In this edition one-third of the reading selections are new and all the selections in chapter 8 on rights are new. Chapter 7 on Hume has been heavily reshaped. Chapter 1 has been reduced to get students past introductory material and into the philosophers.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS Chapter 1: Morality and Moral PhilosophyCase Study: The Watergate CoverupMoralityThe Nature of a Moral Postition: Ronald Dworkin: "The Concept of a Moral Position"The Object of Morality: G.J. Warnock: "The Object of Morality"Approaches to the Study of MoralityThe Remainder of This TextSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 2: Relativity, Pluralism, and Individuality in MoralsCase Study: Mercy Killing in CanadaRelativism in Morals: J.L. Mackie: "Relativism and the Claim to Objectivity"; Richard B. Brandt: "Relativism and Ultimate Disagreements about Ethical Principles"Moral Disagreement: Alasdair MacIntyre: "Moral Disagreements"Egoism: David P. Gauthier: "The Incompleat Egoist"Suggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 3: Justification and TruthCase Study: Organ Procurement PoliciesMoral Arguments and Moral JustificationInternal and External JustificationsUltimate Justification and Individual Choice: William K. Frankena: "Why Be Moral?"CognitivismNoncognitivismMoral Realism and Antirealism: David McNaughton: "Morality--Invention or Discovery?"; J.L. Mackie: "Subjectivsim, Objectism, and the Error Theory"Reflective Equilibrium: John Rawls: "Some Remarks About Moral Theory"ConclusionSuggested Supplementary Readings PART 2: CLASSICAL ETHICAL THEORIESChapter 4: Mill and Utilitarian TheoriesCase Study: Health Policy for HypertensionThe Objectives of Normative TheoriesThe Utilitarian Conception of Morality: John Stuart Mills: "Utilitarianism"The Concept of UtilityAct Utilitariansim: J.J.C. Smart: "An Outline of a System of Utilitarian Ethics"Rule Utilitarianism: Richard B. Brandt: "Some Merits of One Form of Rule-Utilitarianism"Criticisms and Defenses of Utilitarianism: Robert Nozick: "Moral Constraints and Moral Goals"ConclusionSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 5: Kant and Deontological Theories Case Study: Plutonium SecretsThe Deontological Conception of Morality: John Rawls: "Utilitarianism and Deontology"Kant's Ethics: Immanual Kant: "The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative"Prima Facie Obligations: W.D. Ross: "What Makes Right Acts Right?"Respect for Persons and Respect for AutonomyDeontolgoical ConstraintsCriticisms and Defenses of Deontolgoical TheoriesConclusionSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 6: Aristotle and Virtue TheoriesCase Study: The Virtues of Jane AddamsThe Concept of VirtueAristotelian Ethics: Aristotle: "Moral Virtue"The Special Place of the Virtues: Alasdair MacIntyre: "The Nature of the Virtues"Can Virtues and Obligations Coexist?Moral Ideals and Moral Excellence: Joel Feinberg: "Obligation and Supererogation"Criticisms and Defenses of Virtue Ethics: Robert B. Louden: "On Some Vices of Virtue Ethics"ConclusionSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 7: Hume and Humean TheoriesCase Study: Drinking Dessert WinesHume's Moral Philosophy: David Hume: "The Principles of Morals"Morals by Invention: J.L. Mackie: "The Content of Ethics"Morals by Agreement: David Gauthier: "David Hume, Contractarian"The Voice of Moral Sentiment: Annette Baier: "Hume, The Women's Moral Theorist?"Criticisms of Humean EthicsConclusionSuggested Supplementary Readings PART 3: TOPICS IN MORAL AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY Chapter 8: RightsCase Study: The Taliban in ControlRights and Human RightsLiberalism and Its Communitarian Critics: Joel Feinberg: "Liberalism and Dogmatism"The Communitarian Rejection of Liberalism: Charles Taylor: "Atomism"; Jeremy Waldron: "When Justice Replaces Affection: The Needs for Rights"Rights Against Oppression: Susan Moller Okin: "Feminism, Women's Human Rights, and Cultural Differences"Types of RightsThe Contingency of RightsRight-Based Ethical TheoriesConclusionSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 9: JusticeCase Study: Nuclear Fallout in the Marshall IslandsThe Nature of JusticePrinciples of JusticeThe Liberatarian Theory: Robert Nozick: "The Entitlement Theory"The Egalitarian Theory: John Rawls: "An Egalitarian Theory of Justice"Criticisms of Theories of Justice: Alasdair Mac Intryre: Rival Justices, Competing Rationalities; Susan Moller Okin: "The Family: Beyond Justice?"ConclusionSuggested Supplementary ReadingsChapter 10: LibertyCase Study: Restricting Access to the InternetThe Concepts of Autonomy and LibertyThe Valid Restriction of Liberty: John Stuart Mill: "On Liberty"Legal Moralism: Robert George: "Making Men Moral"The Offense Principles: Joel Feinberg: "'Harmless Immoralities' and Offensive Nuances"Paternalism: Gerald Dworkin: "Paternalism"ConclusionSuggested Supplementary Readings