Problems in Applied Ethics
An Introduction to Contemporary Debates
Published on 30. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
560 pages
978-1-350-45217-6 (ISBN)
Description
Problems in Applied Ethics takes a pro and con approach to both perennial and contemporary topics in applied ethics.
Each chapter addresses a crucial moral issue such as: Abortion, capital punishment, animal rights, human genome editing, reparations, and same-sex marriage. Contemporary philosophers with opposing viewpoints are then paired together to argue their position and raise problems with conflicting standpoints. Alongside an up-to-date introduction to a core ethical stance, each contributor provides a critical response to their opponent and clear explanation of their view.
Discussion questions are included at the beginning of each essay and the end of each chapter to guide further reflection.
With chapters ranging from why euthanasia is right or wrong to what obligations we have to animals and should drugs be legalized, this introduction covers questions lying at the heart of debates about what is and is not morally permissible.
Each chapter addresses a crucial moral issue such as: Abortion, capital punishment, animal rights, human genome editing, reparations, and same-sex marriage. Contemporary philosophers with opposing viewpoints are then paired together to argue their position and raise problems with conflicting standpoints. Alongside an up-to-date introduction to a core ethical stance, each contributor provides a critical response to their opponent and clear explanation of their view.
Discussion questions are included at the beginning of each essay and the end of each chapter to guide further reflection.
With chapters ranging from why euthanasia is right or wrong to what obligations we have to animals and should drugs be legalized, this introduction covers questions lying at the heart of debates about what is and is not morally permissible.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 173 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
932 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-45217-6 (9781350452176)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2026
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€27.49
Available for download
E-Book
04/2026
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€27.49
Available for download
Person
Steven B. Cowan is Chair of the Department of Humanities and Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Lincoln Memorial University, USA.
Content
Table of ContentsContributors
Acknowledgements
Introduction Steven B. Cowan
1. Abortion
A Case for the Moral Permissibility of Abortion Amy Berg
Unborn Human Beings Have Fundamental Rights Patrick Lee
Responses
Lee's Response to Berg on Abortion
Berg's Response to Lee on Abortion
For Further Reading
2. Physician Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
The Case for Mercy Killing and Physician-Assisted Suicide Arthur Schafer
Against Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Scott Rae
Responses
Rae's Response to Schafer on Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Schafer's Response to Rae on Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
For Further Reading
3. Capital Punishment
The Case for Capital Punishment Joseph M. Bessette and Edward Feser
Against the Death Penalty Lloyd Steffen
Responses
Steffen's Response to Bessette and Feser on Capital Punishment
Bessette's and Feser's Response to Steffen on Capital Punishment
For Further Reading
4. Human Genome Editing
The Case in Favor of Intentional Genetic Modification Colin Farrelly
Human Genetic Enhancement: A Bridge Too Far C. Ben Mitchell
Responses
Mitchell's Response to Farrelly on Human Genome Editing
Farrelly's Response to Mitchell on Human Genome Editing
For Further Reading
5. Right to Healthcare
Stability, Liberty, and the Right to Health Care Robert C. Hughes
There Is No Right to Healthcare Trevor Burrus
Responses
Burrus's Response to Hughes on the Right to Healthcare
Hughes's Response to Burrus on the Right to Healthcare
For Further Reading
6. Vaccine Mandates
For Vaccine Mandates Shlomo Cohen
Against Vaccine Mandates Gabriel A. Moens
Responses
Moens's Response to Cohen on Vaccine Mandates
Cohen's Response to Moens on Vaccine Mandates
For Further Reading
7. Animal Rights
A Non-Consequentialist Defense of Animal Rights Molly Gardner
Animal Ethics and the Substance View Bruce P. Blackshaw
Responses
Blackshaw's Response to Gardner on Animal Rights
Gardner's Response to Blackshaw on Animal Rights
For Further Reading
8. Immigration/Open Borders
A Case for Immigration Michael Huemer
On the Incoherence of Libertarian Open Borders Theory Daniel Demetriou
Responses
Demetriou's Response to Huemer on Immigration and Open Borders
Huemer's Response to Demetriou on Immigration and Open Borders
For Further Reading
9. Gun Control
There is No Right to Own a Gun for Self-Defense Nicholas Dixon
The Right to Bear Arms Benjamin L. Mabry
Responses
Mabry's Response to Dixon on Gun Control
Dixon's Response to Mabry on Gun Control
For Further Reading
10. War and Peace
War Can Be Morally Justified Steven B. Cowan
Pacifism and Peacemaking Timothy Paul Erdel
Responses
Erdel's Response to Cowan on War and Peace
Cowan's Response to Erdel on War and Peace
For Further Reading
11. Reparations
For Reparations for Past Injustices Federico Lenzerini
The Case Against Slavery Reparations Andrew Bernstein
Responses
Bernstein's Response to Lenzerini on Reparations
Lenzerini's Response to Bernstein on Reparations
For Further Reading
12. Free Speech
Free Speech Absolutism Onkar Ghate
There Should Be Legal Limits to Free Speech Andrei Bespalov
Responses
Bespalov's Response to Ghate on Free Speech
Ghate's Response to Bespalov on Free Speech
For Further Reading
13. Same Sex Marriage
Against Same-sex Marriage James S. Spiegel
A Case for Same-Sex Marriage Christopher Arroyo
Responses
Arroyo's Response to Spiegel on Same-sex Marriage
Spiegel's Response to Arroyo on Same-sex Marriage
For Further Reading
14. Transgender Rights
The Case for Trans Rights Jasper Heaton
Against Transgender Rights David S. Crawford
Responses
Crawford's Response to Heaton on Transgender Rights
Heaton's Response to Crawford on Transgender Rights
For Further Reading
15. Drug Legalization
For Drug Legalization Chris Meyers
Eat, Drink, and Be Sober: The Case for Drug Prohibition Timothy Hsiao
Responses
Hsiao's Response to Meyers on Drug Legalization
Meyers's Response to Hsiao on Drug Legalization
For Further Reading
Index
Acknowledgements
Introduction Steven B. Cowan
1. Abortion
A Case for the Moral Permissibility of Abortion Amy Berg
Unborn Human Beings Have Fundamental Rights Patrick Lee
Responses
Lee's Response to Berg on Abortion
Berg's Response to Lee on Abortion
For Further Reading
2. Physician Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
The Case for Mercy Killing and Physician-Assisted Suicide Arthur Schafer
Against Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Scott Rae
Responses
Rae's Response to Schafer on Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Schafer's Response to Rae on Physician Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
For Further Reading
3. Capital Punishment
The Case for Capital Punishment Joseph M. Bessette and Edward Feser
Against the Death Penalty Lloyd Steffen
Responses
Steffen's Response to Bessette and Feser on Capital Punishment
Bessette's and Feser's Response to Steffen on Capital Punishment
For Further Reading
4. Human Genome Editing
The Case in Favor of Intentional Genetic Modification Colin Farrelly
Human Genetic Enhancement: A Bridge Too Far C. Ben Mitchell
Responses
Mitchell's Response to Farrelly on Human Genome Editing
Farrelly's Response to Mitchell on Human Genome Editing
For Further Reading
5. Right to Healthcare
Stability, Liberty, and the Right to Health Care Robert C. Hughes
There Is No Right to Healthcare Trevor Burrus
Responses
Burrus's Response to Hughes on the Right to Healthcare
Hughes's Response to Burrus on the Right to Healthcare
For Further Reading
6. Vaccine Mandates
For Vaccine Mandates Shlomo Cohen
Against Vaccine Mandates Gabriel A. Moens
Responses
Moens's Response to Cohen on Vaccine Mandates
Cohen's Response to Moens on Vaccine Mandates
For Further Reading
7. Animal Rights
A Non-Consequentialist Defense of Animal Rights Molly Gardner
Animal Ethics and the Substance View Bruce P. Blackshaw
Responses
Blackshaw's Response to Gardner on Animal Rights
Gardner's Response to Blackshaw on Animal Rights
For Further Reading
8. Immigration/Open Borders
A Case for Immigration Michael Huemer
On the Incoherence of Libertarian Open Borders Theory Daniel Demetriou
Responses
Demetriou's Response to Huemer on Immigration and Open Borders
Huemer's Response to Demetriou on Immigration and Open Borders
For Further Reading
9. Gun Control
There is No Right to Own a Gun for Self-Defense Nicholas Dixon
The Right to Bear Arms Benjamin L. Mabry
Responses
Mabry's Response to Dixon on Gun Control
Dixon's Response to Mabry on Gun Control
For Further Reading
10. War and Peace
War Can Be Morally Justified Steven B. Cowan
Pacifism and Peacemaking Timothy Paul Erdel
Responses
Erdel's Response to Cowan on War and Peace
Cowan's Response to Erdel on War and Peace
For Further Reading
11. Reparations
For Reparations for Past Injustices Federico Lenzerini
The Case Against Slavery Reparations Andrew Bernstein
Responses
Bernstein's Response to Lenzerini on Reparations
Lenzerini's Response to Bernstein on Reparations
For Further Reading
12. Free Speech
Free Speech Absolutism Onkar Ghate
There Should Be Legal Limits to Free Speech Andrei Bespalov
Responses
Bespalov's Response to Ghate on Free Speech
Ghate's Response to Bespalov on Free Speech
For Further Reading
13. Same Sex Marriage
Against Same-sex Marriage James S. Spiegel
A Case for Same-Sex Marriage Christopher Arroyo
Responses
Arroyo's Response to Spiegel on Same-sex Marriage
Spiegel's Response to Arroyo on Same-sex Marriage
For Further Reading
14. Transgender Rights
The Case for Trans Rights Jasper Heaton
Against Transgender Rights David S. Crawford
Responses
Crawford's Response to Heaton on Transgender Rights
Heaton's Response to Crawford on Transgender Rights
For Further Reading
15. Drug Legalization
For Drug Legalization Chris Meyers
Eat, Drink, and Be Sober: The Case for Drug Prohibition Timothy Hsiao
Responses
Hsiao's Response to Meyers on Drug Legalization
Meyers's Response to Hsiao on Drug Legalization
For Further Reading
Index