Dimensions of Moral Theory: An Introduction to Metaethics and Moral Psychology

✍ Scribed by Jonathan Jacobs

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 192
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

'Dimensions' may well become the standard intermediate text in ethics courses. Jacobs offers a clear, cohesive, and accessible examination of the often mysterious, yet critical content of ethical theory, falling under the rubrics of metaethics (epistemological, metaphysical, and semantic)and moral psychology, which details the major positions and supporting arguments while tracing their historical development, with concinnity (notably, under 150 pages) and aplumb.
Citing David McNaughton, Keele University, from the back cover, "There is a real sense of engaging in a continuing dialogue that spans the history of the subject." The book is conveniently, for a sixteen week semester, divided into four sections: Objectivity and Subjectivity, Moral Theory and Moral Psychology, Forms of Moral Theory, Naturalism and Non-naturalism. The book has excellent references, bibliography, and useful glossary.
My only reservations are that, because of its compact presentation (a strength), the reading is sometimes haltingly slow. Also, the work of certain important contemporaries such as Parfit and Singer are ignored.
However, this superb study is the perfect text to follow a general introduction, such as Rachels, et al., and highly useful for anyone wishing to know more about the more challenging issues informing contemporary ethical discourse and practice.

✦ Table of Contents

Dimensions of Moral Theory: An Introduction to Metaethics and Moral Psychology......Page 5
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgments......Page 15
1 Objectivity and Subjectivity......Page 17
Interpretations of Objectivity......Page 18
Monism and Pluralism......Page 29
This Way to Subjectivism......Page 33
Subjectivity and Sentiment......Page 39
Subjectivism and Skepticism......Page 42
Relativism......Page 49
Where Now?......Page 54
Thinkers and Their Works, and Further Reading......Page 55
Notes......Page 56
Moral Motivation......Page 58
Virtue and Motivation......Page 66
Self-interest and Morality......Page 68
What about Luck?......Page 75
Are Moral Considerations Overriding?......Page 82
Where Now?......Page 86
Questions for Discussion and Reflection......Page 87
Notes......Page 88
3 Forms of Moral Theory......Page 90
Consequentialism......Page 91
Kantian Non-consequentialism......Page 96
Intuitionist Non-consequentialism......Page 101
The Virtue-centered Approach......Page 106
Contractarianism......Page 113
Theories, Duties, and Metaethics......Page 118
Where Now?......Page 121
Thinkers and Their Works, and Further Reading......Page 122
Notes......Page 123
4 Naturalism and Nonnaturalism......Page 126
Naturalism......Page 127
The Modern Debate about Naturalism......Page 130
Reconstructed Naturalism......Page 134
Non-cognitivist Alternatives......Page 136
Hume and Naturalism......Page 142
Reconnecting Facts and Values......Page 144
Aristotle and Naturalism......Page 150
Moral Facts and Explanation......Page 154
What about God?......Page 158
Where Now?......Page 164
Thinkers and Their Works, and Further Reading......Page 165
Notes......Page 166
Conclusion......Page 169
Glossary......Page 172
Bibliography......Page 178
Index......Page 182