The Right Thing to Do
Readings in Moral Philosophy
9th Edition
Will be published approx. on 5. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
496 pages
979-8-7651-6235-4 (ISBN)
Description
The ninth edition of James Rachels' and Stuart Rachels' moral philosophy reader continues its legacy of providing students with foundational moral philosophy texts and a diverse collection of contemporary, thought-provoking essays.
Introductory essays by James Rachels supplement foundational readings in moral theory to provide students with a framework to engage with ethical issues. From discussions of right and wrong and duty and virtue, the book proceeds to contemporary themes so students may apply foundational concepts to current events and controversies.
Eight new readings from Elizabeth Kolbert, Nicholas Kristof, David Frum, and Stuart Rachels engage students on topics of climate change, immigration, childcare and education, gun violence, and government authority.
Introductory essays by James Rachels supplement foundational readings in moral theory to provide students with a framework to engage with ethical issues. From discussions of right and wrong and duty and virtue, the book proceeds to contemporary themes so students may apply foundational concepts to current events and controversies.
Eight new readings from Elizabeth Kolbert, Nicholas Kristof, David Frum, and Stuart Rachels engage students on topics of climate change, immigration, childcare and education, gun violence, and government authority.
More details
Edition
9th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
5 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 153 mm
Width: 228 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
678 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-7651-6235-4 (9798765162354)
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
Persons
James Rachels was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. He wrote The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality, Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism, Can Ethics Provide Answers? And Other Essays in Moral Philosophy, Problems from Philosophy, and The Legacy of Socrates: Essays in Moral Philosophy.
Stuart Rachels retired from teaching philosophy in 2024. He has revised several of James Rachels' books, including The Elements of Moral Philosophy and The Right Thing to Do. He also wrote The Best I Saw in Chess: Games, Stories and Instruction from an Alabama Prodigy Who Became U.S. Champion.
Stuart Rachels retired from teaching philosophy in 2024. He has revised several of James Rachels' books, including The Elements of Moral Philosophy and The Right Thing to Do. He also wrote The Best I Saw in Chess: Games, Stories and Instruction from an Alabama Prodigy Who Became U.S. Champion.
Content
*new to this edition
Preface
Introduction
1. A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy, James Rachels
2. Some Basic Points about Arguments, James Rachels
Is Morality Objective?
3. The Subjectivity of Values, J. L. Mackie
4. Our Sense of Right and Wrong, C. S. Lewis
Theoretical Essays
5. Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill
6. Utilitarianism and Integrity, Bernard Williams
7. The Experience Machine, Robert Nozick
8. The Categorical Imperative, Immanuel Kant
9. The Virtues, Aristotle
10. Master Morality and Slave Morality, Friedrich Nietzsche
11. Caring Relations and Principles of Justice, Virginia Held
Gender and Race
12. Homeward Bound, Linda Hirshman
13. The Case for Reparations, Ta-Nehisi Coates
14. In Defense of Quotas, James Rachels
Sex, Date Rape, and Hazing
15. Our Sexual Ethics, Bertrand Russell
16. Alcohol and Rape, Nicholas Dixon
17. A Death at Penn State, Caitlin Flanagan
Abortion
18. Summary of the Dobbs Decision, The Court Reporter's Office of the U.S. Supreme Court
19. On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion and Postscript on Infanticide, Mary Anne Warren
20. Why Abortion Is Immoral , Don Marquis
21. A Defense of Abortion, Judith Jarvis Thomson
Poverty
22. Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Peter Singer
*23. We Americans Neglect Our Children, Nicholas Kristof
Climate Change
*24. Climate Change from A to Z, Elizabeth Kolbert
*25. The Climate Peril We Overlook, Nicholas Kristof
Illicit Drugs
26. America's Unjust Drug War, Michael Huemer
27. Is Doping Wrong? , Peter Singer
Guns
28. Why Guns Shouldn't Be Outlawed, Michael Huemer
*29. How to Persuade Americans to Give Up Their Guns, David Frum
*30. A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths, Nicholas Kristof
Immigration and Taxes
31. The Case for Open Immigration, Michael Huemer
*32. If Liberals Won't Enforce Borders, Fascists Will, David Frum
33. Is Taxation Theft?, Michael Huemer
*34. The Authority of Government, Stuart Rachels
Animals
35. All Animals Are Equal, Peter Singer
36. Torturing Puppies and Eating Meat: It's All in Good Taste, Alastair Norcross
Punishment and Torture
37. A Defense of the Death Penalty, Louis P. Pojman
38. Hellhole, Atul Gawande
39. Liberalism, Torture, and the Ticking Bomb, David Luban
War and Terrorism
40. Fifty Years after Hiroshima, John Rawls
41. What Is Wrong with Terrorism?, Thomas Nagel
Euthanasia, Healthcare, and Cloning
42. The Morality of Euthanasia, James Rachels
43. The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia, J. Gay-Williams
44. Letting Go: What Should Medicine Do When It Can't Save Your Life?, Atul Gawande
45. Human Cloning and the Challenge of Regulation, John A. Robertson
Meaning and Hope
46. The Meaning of Life, Richard Taylor
*47. The Case for Hope, Nicholas Kristof
Index
Preface
Introduction
1. A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy, James Rachels
2. Some Basic Points about Arguments, James Rachels
Is Morality Objective?
3. The Subjectivity of Values, J. L. Mackie
4. Our Sense of Right and Wrong, C. S. Lewis
Theoretical Essays
5. Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill
6. Utilitarianism and Integrity, Bernard Williams
7. The Experience Machine, Robert Nozick
8. The Categorical Imperative, Immanuel Kant
9. The Virtues, Aristotle
10. Master Morality and Slave Morality, Friedrich Nietzsche
11. Caring Relations and Principles of Justice, Virginia Held
Gender and Race
12. Homeward Bound, Linda Hirshman
13. The Case for Reparations, Ta-Nehisi Coates
14. In Defense of Quotas, James Rachels
Sex, Date Rape, and Hazing
15. Our Sexual Ethics, Bertrand Russell
16. Alcohol and Rape, Nicholas Dixon
17. A Death at Penn State, Caitlin Flanagan
Abortion
18. Summary of the Dobbs Decision, The Court Reporter's Office of the U.S. Supreme Court
19. On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion and Postscript on Infanticide, Mary Anne Warren
20. Why Abortion Is Immoral , Don Marquis
21. A Defense of Abortion, Judith Jarvis Thomson
Poverty
22. Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Peter Singer
*23. We Americans Neglect Our Children, Nicholas Kristof
Climate Change
*24. Climate Change from A to Z, Elizabeth Kolbert
*25. The Climate Peril We Overlook, Nicholas Kristof
Illicit Drugs
26. America's Unjust Drug War, Michael Huemer
27. Is Doping Wrong? , Peter Singer
Guns
28. Why Guns Shouldn't Be Outlawed, Michael Huemer
*29. How to Persuade Americans to Give Up Their Guns, David Frum
*30. A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths, Nicholas Kristof
Immigration and Taxes
31. The Case for Open Immigration, Michael Huemer
*32. If Liberals Won't Enforce Borders, Fascists Will, David Frum
33. Is Taxation Theft?, Michael Huemer
*34. The Authority of Government, Stuart Rachels
Animals
35. All Animals Are Equal, Peter Singer
36. Torturing Puppies and Eating Meat: It's All in Good Taste, Alastair Norcross
Punishment and Torture
37. A Defense of the Death Penalty, Louis P. Pojman
38. Hellhole, Atul Gawande
39. Liberalism, Torture, and the Ticking Bomb, David Luban
War and Terrorism
40. Fifty Years after Hiroshima, John Rawls
41. What Is Wrong with Terrorism?, Thomas Nagel
Euthanasia, Healthcare, and Cloning
42. The Morality of Euthanasia, James Rachels
43. The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia, J. Gay-Williams
44. Letting Go: What Should Medicine Do When It Can't Save Your Life?, Atul Gawande
45. Human Cloning and the Challenge of Regulation, John A. Robertson
Meaning and Hope
46. The Meaning of Life, Richard Taylor
*47. The Case for Hope, Nicholas Kristof
Index