Ethics and Human Well-being

This is an ideal introduction to moral philosophy for beginning students and general readers, dealing with the philosophical theories which often lie behind everyday opinions and inviting the reader to examine those theories thoroughly. Using numerous examples and diagrams, Professor Bond guides the reader through the key problems of theoretical ethics seeking to outline a substantial view of morality in universal practical reason, he concludes in an attempt to show that a viable universal morality can only relate to the thriving, flourishing or well-being of individuals in a community.

Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction: What is Moral Philosophy? 1 Part I Moral Skepticism 5 1 Psychological Egoism 7 2 Cultural Relativism 21 3 Subjective Relativism 48 4 Subjectivism and Non-cognitivism 63 Recommended Reading 93 Part II A Rational Basis for Ethics 97 5 Practical Reason and Value 99 6 Moral Value 118 Recommended Reading 130 Part III What Morality Is 133 7 Three Different Approaches to Ethics 135 8 Goodness of Character (Aretaic Morality) 150 9 The Avoidance of Wrongdoing (Deontic Morality) 165 Recommended Reading 180 Part IV Tying Things Together 183 10 The Relations between Aretaic and Deontic Morality 185 11 Justice and Rights 196 12 The Best Life for All 208 Recommended Reading 232 Notes 234 Glossary 250 Index 259