Ethics: Inventing Right and WrongAn insight into moral skepticism of the 20th century. The author argues that our every-day moral codes are an 'error theory' based on the presumption of moral facts which, he persuasively argues, don't exist. His refutation of such facts is based on their metaphysical 'queerness' and the observation of cultural relativity. |
Contents
Patterns of objectification | |
Good in moral contexts | |
Universalization | |
putting oneself in the other | |
Subjective elements in universalization | |
THE CONTENT OF ETHICS | |
Utilitarianism | |
Morality in the narrow sense | |
Consequentialism and Deontology | |
Absolutism and the principle of double effect | |
Egoism rights and property | |
How princes should keep faith | |
The right to life | |
Preface | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute accept act utilitarianism actual agent agreement argued argument argument from queerness believe broad sense categorical imperative causal causally determined Chapter chosen end claim to objectivity commendation compatibilism concepts conflict consequences consequentialist constraints deontological descriptive meaning desires determinism dispositions distinction egoism endorse ethics eudaimonia Euthyphro dilemma fact fairly game theory happiness Hobbes human Hume Hume's Law hypothetical imperative ideals incompatibilists institution interests kind logical thesis maxims meaning of moral merely moral judgements moral scepticism moral system moral terms moral thought moral values motives narrow sense natural notion objective values objectively prescriptive obliquely intended one’s order moral particular perhaps person point of view possible premiss principles promising Protagoras question R.M. Hare rational relations responsibility rule utilitarianism satisfy second effect second stage social someone sort stage of universalization straight rule subjectivism substantive practical supposed theory things third stage universalizability utility virtue wrong