Introduction to Ethical Theories

Book excerpt: In this accessible and instructive work, Birsch introduces the main ethical theories in Western philosophy using a procedural approach that enables readers to make justified ethical evaluations of cases and issues. This novel treatment provides a well-rounded overview of each theoretical approach and attempts to refute the widely held opinion that there are no justified or correct solutions to moral problems. Outstanding features: • Introduces each ethical theory with a discussion of its philosophical starting point • Explains the reasoning and conclusions crucial to each theoretical approach • Discusses each ethical theory’s view of moral significance and moral equality • Develops an ethical procedure based on an ethical theory’s moral rules and principles then applies the procedure to relevant cases, resulting in justified or correct moral solutions for that particular ethical theory • Presents the strengths and weaknesses of each ethical theory • Provides a discussion of the United Nations human rights morality and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights • Includes review questions and additional assignments for further exploration and application of ethical theories