Ethics : theory and practice / Y.V. Satyanarayana.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Satyanarayana, Y. V.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethics.

Ethical problems.

Responsibility.

Applied ethics.

Happiness.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 v.) : ill.

Edition:

1st edition

Place of Publication:

New Delhi, India : Pearson, 2009.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Ethics is a part of philosophy that is concerned with living well and choosing the right course of action. The choice of the course of action is based on moral reasoning and there is no single moral theory on which we can base the choices that we make. The application of moral standards in life is also the concern of Ethics: Theory and Practice , which deals with moral theories in Indian and Western philosophical traditions as well as the debates that centre around their application. The book has ten chapters—the first chapter presents what morality and moral reasoning is; the second chapter is a critical survey of some popular concepts of Indian ethics; the third chapter surveys Western moral theories and the remaining seven chapters cover a variety of contemporary moral issues that are controversial as well as inescapable. They deal with issues like capital punishment, civil disobedience, euthanasia, and women’s rights.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Preface

Foreword

Chapter 1: Morality and Moral Reasoning

The Nature of Moral Statements

The Place of Reason in Ethics

Personal and Social Ethics

The Nature and Function of Applied Ethics

Moral reasoning

Moral principles and rules

Moral judgments

Moral arguments

Applying Ethical Theories

References

Chapter 2: A Critical Survey of Indian Ethics

Purusarthas or Cardinal Values

Dharma or righteousness

Artha or wealth

Kama or desire

Moksha or liberation

Varna system or social gradation

Asrama System or the Stages of Life

Critical Evaluation

Untouchability and priest-craft

Concluding Remarks

Yama and Niyama

Yama

1. Ahimsa or non-violence

2. Satya or truth

3. Asteya or non-stealing

4. Brahmacharya or continence

5. Aparigraha or non-coveting

Niyama

1. Saucha or purity

2. Santosa or contentment

3. Tapas or austerity

4. Svadhyaya or study of the self

5. Isvara pranidhan or devotion to god

The Gita Concept of Niskama Karma

Niskama karma or action devoid of desire

Charvaka Ethics

Gandhian Ethics

Gandhi's Concept of Non-violence

Satyagraha or Non-violent Direct Action

Satyagraha and passive resistance

Salient features of satyagraha

Constructive programme

Gandhi's method of conflict resolution

Strategies and techniques of satyagraha

Gandhi's Vision of Ideal World Social Order

Chapter 3: A Critical Survey of Western Moral Theories

Nicomachean Ethics

The three-fold nature of human beings

Happiness as the supreme good

Intellectual and moral virtues

Definition of virtue

Virtue as a mean between two extremes.

The relation between soul and virtue

Freedom of the will

Cardinal virtues

Critical evaluation

Cultural Relativism

Ethical Subjectivism

The theory of emotivism

Is Morality Based on Religion?

The Divine Command Theory

The theory of natural law

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Butler's Theory of Conscience and Self-love

The nature of virtue and vice

The supremacy of conscience

Self-love and benevolence

Concluding remarks

Utilitarian Theory of Morality

Kant's Theory of Morality

The Social Contract Theory of Morality

Chapter 4: The Justification of Civil Disobedience

Political Obligation

Socrates and the problem of political obligation

Social contract theory and the problem of political obligation

The conflict between legal and moral obligations

The Nature and Content of Civil Disobedience

The appeal to conscience

Justification of civil disobedience

When is a law really a law?

How is civil disobedience different from other kinds of law breaking?

Is the citizen under an obligation to obey the unjust laws of the state?

Is civil disobedience a legitimate act?

Does civil disobedience provide basis for anarchy?

Is prosecution necessary against a civil disobedient?

What is the Extent of Political Obligation?

Is civil disobedience in a democratic state justifiable?

Chapter 5: Preferential Treatment and Moral Justification

The Nature and Content of Preferential Treatment

Preferential treatment and reverse discrimination.

Preferential treatment and compensatory justice

Utilitarian approach

Controversies about Preferential Treatment

Arguments in favour of preferential treatment

Arguments against preferential treatment

Justification of Preferential Treatment

The Consequences of Past Discrimination

Does preferential treatment involve unjust treatment to members of non-preferred groups?

The deficiencies involved in preferential treatment

Preferential treatment and the problem of creamy layer

Chapter 6: The Need for Environmental Ethics

Man-Nature Relation

The impact of Judeo-Christian tradition

Paganism and Christianity

The Impact of Age of Reason

The Impact of Technology

The Impact of Darwinism

Anthropocentric morality

Non-anthropocentric morality

The Land Ethic

Deep Ecology

Biocentric equality

The basic principles of deep ecology

The Value of Wilderness

Duty to future generations

The Need for Environmental Ethics

Chapter 7: The Justification of Capital Punishment

Crime and Punishment

The Nature of Punishment

How is the State Justified in Inflicting Penalties on Criminals?

Theories of Punishment

Retributive theory of punishment

How does Kant justify capital punishment?

What does it mean to treat people as rational beings?

How are rational beings responsible for their actions?

Utilitarian Theory of Punishment

On what grounds utilitarianism justifies punishment?

How does utilitarianism justify capital punishment?

Controversies on Capital Punishment

Arguments in favour of capital punishment

Arguments against capital punishment

Critical Evaluation.

Can a murderer, who has taken away the 'right to life' of the victim, claim his own 'right to life'? is it not a moral contradiction to make such a claim for his own right to life?

Is death penalty primitive, uncivilized, cruel and revengeful act?

Does the death penalty actually deter other potential criminals from committing serious crimes?

Are the laws of punishment and distribution of punishmentone and the same? Are they not two different aspects of punishment?

Is the life of a murderer more sacred, worthy and valuable than the life of a victim?

Is the death penalty justifiable for all crimes of homicide? What are its limitations?

Chapter 8: The Problem of Abortion

Why Pregnant Women Seek Abortions?

Biological Development of the Foetus

Ethical Acceptability of Abortion

Conservative view of abortion

Liberal view of abortion

Moderate view of abortion

The Moral Status of the Foetus

What is a Person? what Characteristics Entitle a Being to be Considered as a Person?

Arguments in Support of Abortion

Arguments Against Abortion

What is a Moral Community?

The Hindu View of Abortion

The Christian View of Abortion

The Catholic View of Abortion

The Protestant View of abortion

The Jewish View of Abortion

The Muslim View of Abortion

The Law on Abortion-United States Supreme Court Ruling

The Indian Law on Abortion

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971

Argument from the doctrine of ensoulment

Argument from the theory of human genetic code

Argument from the sanctity of human life

Argument from the potentiality of the foetus

The argument from promise

Argument from the rights of women

Justification of Abortion

Chapter 9: The Justification of Voluntary Euthanasia.

What Does Euthanasia Mean?

Types of Euthanasia

Ethical Acceptability of Euthanasia

Intentional and Unintentional Termination of Life

The Controversy Over AMA. Statement

Reasons Shown in Support of Euthanasia

Reasons Shown Against Euthanasia

Arguments Against Euthanasia

The problem of meaningful consent

Is it reasonable to argue that expressions of written consent made long before ought not be given much importance in cases of terminally ill patients?

The argument from nature

Does a terminally ill patient have an inclination to prolong his life?

The argument from self-interest

The argument from practical effects

The argument from reason

Is not the artificial prolongation of the life of a terminally ill patient 'playing god'?

If human life is the gift of god, why does god insist upon his gift being kept forever regardless of its bad consequences to the recipient?

Does the sixth commandment prohibit all forms of killing?

The argument from the 'Wedge Principle'

Does legislation of euthanasia obviously lead to undesirable consequences?

Arguments in Support of Euthanasia

The argument from mercy

The argument from the Golden Rule

The argument from respect to individual autonomy and rights

The argument from quality of life

Is it morally permissible to terminate the life of a person in acute pain and suffering for the sake of relieving him from agony?

Chapter 10: Gender Discrimination and Unequal Treatment of Women

What is Gender Discrimination?

What Does Equality Mean?

What Does Equality between the Sexes Mean?

What Factors are Restricting Women in the Participation of Various Activities of Social Life?

1. Traditional thinking and social conditioning

2. Socialization of children.

3. Restrictions on social mobility and differential treatment.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789332500914

9332500916

OCLC:

893689156