Ethical Theory: Theories About How We Should Live v.2

The aim of this series is to bring together important recent writings in major areas of philosophical inquiry, selected from a variety of sources, mostly periodicals, which may not be conveniently available to the university student or the general reader. The editor of each volume contributes an introductory essay on the items chosen and on the questions with which they deal. A selective bibliography is appended as a guide to further reading. Ethical Theory 2: Theories about How We Should Live deals with philosophical theories about how we ought to live, including utilitarianism, social contract theory, rights theory, virtue theory, and the New Kantianism. It includes a clearly written, substantial, and critical introduction guiding the beginner through the intricacies of the subject. Ethical Theory Volumes 1 and 2 together provide an overview of contemporary moral philosophy, reprinting classic and contemporary articles, many of which are not otherwise readily available.Introduction; 1. What Makes Action Right?; 2. Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism; 3. Motive Utilitarianism; 4. On Consequentialism; 5. Justice as Fairness; 6. Contractualism and Utilitarianism; 7. Why Contractarianism?; 8. Can There be a Right-Based Moral Theory?; 9. Later Selves and Moral Principles; 10. Persons, Character, and Morality; 11. Quandary Ethics; 12. Supererogation, Wrongdoing, and Vice; 13. Alienation, Consequentialism, and the Demands of Morality; 14. Consistency in Action; 15. The Right to Lie: Kant on Dealing with Evil; 16. The Fragmentation of Value; Notes on the Contributors; Select Bibliography; Index