Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues

Part I: THE CONTEXTCHAPTER 1 - THE NEED FOR ETHICSWhy do we need ethics if we have laws?Ethics definedEthics and religious beliefThe need for ethicsPreliminary guidelinesDoing research on the InternetMaking discussion meaningfulSample responsesInquiriesCHAPTER 2 - THE ROLE OF THE MAJORITY VIEWA sample situationThe majority can errSample responseInquiriesCHAPTER 3 - THE ROLE OF FEELINGSHow feelings came to be emphasizedAre feelings reliable?A better guide is neededSample responseInquiriesCHAPTER 4 - THE ROLE OF CONSCIENCEConscience and shameIndividual differencesThe shapers of conscienceNatural endowmentSocial conditioningMoral choiceA balanced view of conscienceSample responseInquiriesCHAPTER 5 - COMPARING CULTURESDifferences among culturesInterpreting the differencesThe similarity of valuesIs judgment appropriate?Three important cautionsInquiriesPart II: A STRATEGYCHAPTER 6 - A FOUNDATION FOR JUDGMENTAssessing ought statementsOughts in ancient culturesGovernmental oughtsOrganizational oughtsOur own everyday oughtsThe principle of right desireThe principle of contradictionChallenges to judgmentRelativismAbsolutismInquiriesCHAPTER 7 - THE BASIC CRITERIAA fundamental good: respect for personsThree basic criteriaObligationsMoral idealsConsequencesAnalyzing ethical issuesStep 1: Study the details of the caseStep 2: Identify the relevant criteriaStep 3: Determine possible courses of actionStep 4: Decide which action is most ethicalThe case of Professor WoebegoneAnalysis 1: The details of the caseAnalysis 2: Relevant criteriaAnalysis 3: Possible courses of actionAnalysis 4: The most ethical actionThe case of Horace's houseAnalysis 1: The details of the caseAnalysis 2: Relevant criteriaAnalysis 3: Possible courses of actionAnalysis 4: The most ethical actionA caution about generalizingAvoiding other errors"Mine is better" thinkingDouble standardUnwarranted assumptionsOversimplificationsHasty conclusionsInquiriesCHAPTER 8 - CONSIDERING OBLIGATIONSWhen obligations conflictWeighing the obligationsTwo moral dilemmasThe Alabama syphilis caseThoroughness is importantInquiriesCHAPTER 9 - CONSIDERING MORAL IDEALSImportant moral idealsPrudence Justice Temperance Courage Loving kindness Integrity Forgiveness Repentance Reparation Gratitude BeneficenceIdeals in conflictThe Munich incidentThe issue of affirmative actionIdeals versus obligationsInquiriesCHAPTER 10 - CONSIDERING CONSEQUENCESDealing with probabilityMaking the analysis thoroughThree difficult questionsA cautionDealing with dilemmasInquiriesCHAPTER 11 - DETERMINING MORAL RESPONSIBILITYHow free are our choices?When culpability is diminishedEthics and lawMore typical casesHeroism not requiredInquiriesPart III: THE TRADITIONCHAPTER 12 - A PERSPECTIVE ON HISTORYThe classical periodThe medieval periodThe modern periodThe ethics of dutyThe ethics of consequencesGreat issues in ethicsInquiryPart IV: CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL CONTROVERSIESEducationMedia and the artsSexGovernmentLawBusinessMedicineScienceWarAFTERWORD: A SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDYAPPENDIXA: WRITING ABOUT MORAL ISSUESB: AVOIDING PLAGIARISM