Three Methods of Ethics: A Debate

During the past decade ethical theory has been in a lively state of development, and three basic approaches to ethics – Kantian ethics, consequentialism, and virtue ethics – have assumed positions of particular prominence. Written in the form of a debate, this volume presents a clear survey and assessment of the main arguments, both for and against each of these three central approaches to ethics. In doing so, it represents the first volume to bring these forms of ethical theory into a critical relationship, engaging current philosophical debate on the one hand in terms clear enough for undergraduates on the other.

It is an ideal basis for course use in ethics and moral philosophy.

Introduction.

Part I: Kantian Ethics. (Marcia Baron).

1. Introduction.

2. Consequentalism versus Kantian Ethics.

3. Kantian Ethics and Virtue Ethics.

4. Further Objections to Kantian Ethics.

Part II: The Consequentialist Perspective. (Philip Pettit).

5. A Moral Psychology for Consequentialists and Non–consequentialists.

6. The Question of Rightness.

7. Different Answers to the Question of Rightness.

8. In Favour of the Consequentialist Answer to the Question of Rightness.

9. The Tenability of the Consequentialist Answer.

Part III: Virtue Ethics. (Michael Slote).

10. What is Virtue Ethics?.

11. Theory versus Anti–theory.

12. Virtue Ethics versus Kantian and Common–sense Morality.

13. Common–sense Virtue Ethics versus Consequentialism.

14. Further Aspects of Common–sense virtual Ethics.

15. Making Sense of Agent–based Virtue Ethics.

16. Morality as Inner Strength.

17. Morality as Universal Benevolence.

18. Morality as Caring.

19. Agent–basing and Applied Ethics.

20. Conclusion: Comparisons within Virtue Ethics.

Part IV: Reply to Pettit and Slote. (Marcia Baron).

21. Reply to Pettit.

22. Reply to Stote.

Part V: Reply to Baron and Stote. (Phillip Pettit).

23. Rival Theories?.

24. Comment on Slote.

25. Comment on Baron.

Part VI: Reply to Baron and Pettit. (Michael Slote).

26. Reply to Baron.

27. Reply to Pettit.

28. Virtue Politics.

Index.

Marcia W. Baron is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Illinois, Urbana. She is the author of Kantian Ethics Almost Without Apology (1995).

Philip Pettit is Professor of Philosophy at Australian National University. He is the author of Republicanism (1996), The Common Mind (1993), and Not Just Deserts (1990), and is editor (with Robert E. Goodin) of A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy (Blackwell Publishers, paperback edition 1996) and Contemporary Political Philosophy: an Anthology (Blackwell Publishers, paperback edition 1997).

Michael Slote is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Goods and Virtues (1983), Common Sense Morality and Consequentialism (1985), Beyond Optimizing(1989), and From Morality to Virtue (1992).

"An unprecedented three–way conversation between forceful representatives of the three major traditions in ethical philosophy." Stephen Darwall, University of Michigan

"An outstanding resource: a book which students beginning to think about normative ethical theory, and their teachers, simply must read." Michael Smith, Australian National University

"This is a superb book by three moral philosophers who really know their stuff; lively, lucid and highly engaging." John Fischer, University of California, Riverside

"This book, which brings together leading protagonists of the three approaches to ethics currently dominant, is definitely one of the best in ethics for 1997. It will provide any reader (whether student, teacher, or ′researcher′) with not only an excellent ′big picture′ of this important area of debate, but also much philosophical detail to chew over." Steven Tudor, University of Melbourne, Australasian Journal of Philosophy