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Moral Theory

An Introduction, Third Edition

Mark Timmons

Moral Theory: An Introduction explores some of the historically most important and currently debated moral theories about the nature of the right and the good, including divine command theory, relativism, natural law theory, consequentialism, egoism, Kant’s ethics, ethics of prima facie duties, contractualism, virtue ethics and care ethics. Providing an introduction to moral theory that explains and critically examines the theories of such classical philosophers as Aristotle, Aquinas, Bentham, Kant, Mill, and Ross, this book acquaints students with the work of contemporary moral philosophers. Each chapter has been revised and updated. The third edition includes a new chapter on moral contractualism and an extensively revised chapter on virtue ethics and care ethics. Additionally, the book discusses recent work by moral psychologists making an impact on moral theory.

  • Details
  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Features
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 368 • Trim: 6½ x 9⅜
978-1-5381-5231-7 • Hardback • February 2022 • $116.00 • (£89.00)
978-1-5381-5232-4 • Paperback • January 2022 • $51.00 • (£39.00)
978-1-5381-5233-1 • eBook • January 2022 • $48.50 • (£37.00)
Series: Elements of Philosophy
Subjects: Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy / General, Philosophy / Methodology
Courses: Philosophy; Ethics; Ethical Theory, Philosophy; Ethics; General

Mark Timmons is professor of philosophy at the University of Arizona. He has published extensively on topics in moral theory, metaethics, and Kant’s ethics. He is author of Morality without Foundations (1999), Kant’s Doctrine of Virtue: A Guide (2021) and editor of the annual Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. What is Moral Theory?

2. Divine Command Theory

3. Moral Relativism

4. Natural Law Theory

5. Consequentialism 1: Classical Utilitarianism

6. Consequentialism 2: Contemporary Developments

7. Ethical Egoism

8. Kant’s Moral Theory

9. Ethics of Prima Facie Duty

10. Moral Contractualism

11. Virtue Ethics and Care Ethics

12. Moral Particularism

13. Conclusion

Appendix: Standards for Evaluating Moral Theories

Guide to Terminology

Like its predecessors, this third edition of Moral Theory offers a well-focused, clear account of moral theories. In a philosophical area marked by the tendency to speak in terms of abstract concepts and isms, Timmons makes frequent, effective use of particular cases, stories, and examples to illustrate the moral theory under discussion…. Throughout, Timmons is careful to present a balanced view of the theory—he mentions both the attractive points and the potential negative points of the theory in question. A useful appendix provides standards for evaluating moral theories. Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; general readers.


— Choice Reviews


The organization in Moral Theory: An Introduction is simply excellent. The framework for the book connects the whole together and the scope is better than other comparable texts I’ve seen.


— Jason Matteson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas


The best thing about Moral Theory might be that it clearly sets forth major aims of moral theory, derives some standards by which to assess moral theories from those aims, and then explicitly applies those standards to the moral theories explained.”


— Lara Denis, Agnes Scott College


1/31/23, Choice: This book was included in a roundup of top community college titles.

Link: https://www.choice360.org/choice-pick/the-top-75-community-college-titles-january-2023-edition/



New features

New chapter on contractualism

Revised chapter on virtue and care ethics

Updated guide to terminology

All chapters edited to prioritize student comprehension



Moral Theory

An Introduction, Third Edition

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Moral Theory: An Introduction explores some of the historically most important and currently debated moral theories about the nature of the right and the good, including divine command theory, relativism, natural law theory, consequentialism, egoism, Kant’s ethics, ethics of prima facie duties, contractualism, virtue ethics and care ethics. Providing an introduction to moral theory that explains and critically examines the theories of such classical philosophers as Aristotle, Aquinas, Bentham, Kant, Mill, and Ross, this book acquaints students with the work of contemporary moral philosophers. Each chapter has been revised and updated. The third edition includes a new chapter on moral contractualism and an extensively revised chapter on virtue ethics and care ethics. Additionally, the book discusses recent work by moral psychologists making an impact on moral theory.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 368 • Trim: 6½ x 9⅜
    978-1-5381-5231-7 • Hardback • February 2022 • $116.00 • (£89.00)
    978-1-5381-5232-4 • Paperback • January 2022 • $51.00 • (£39.00)
    978-1-5381-5233-1 • eBook • January 2022 • $48.50 • (£37.00)
    Series: Elements of Philosophy
    Subjects: Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy / General, Philosophy / Methodology
    Courses: Philosophy; Ethics; Ethical Theory, Philosophy; Ethics; General
Author
Author
  • Mark Timmons is professor of philosophy at the University of Arizona. He has published extensively on topics in moral theory, metaethics, and Kant’s ethics. He is author of Morality without Foundations (1999), Kant’s Doctrine of Virtue: A Guide (2021) and editor of the annual Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Preface

    Acknowledgments

    1. What is Moral Theory?

    2. Divine Command Theory

    3. Moral Relativism

    4. Natural Law Theory

    5. Consequentialism 1: Classical Utilitarianism

    6. Consequentialism 2: Contemporary Developments

    7. Ethical Egoism

    8. Kant’s Moral Theory

    9. Ethics of Prima Facie Duty

    10. Moral Contractualism

    11. Virtue Ethics and Care Ethics

    12. Moral Particularism

    13. Conclusion

    Appendix: Standards for Evaluating Moral Theories

    Guide to Terminology

Reviews
Reviews
  • Like its predecessors, this third edition of Moral Theory offers a well-focused, clear account of moral theories. In a philosophical area marked by the tendency to speak in terms of abstract concepts and isms, Timmons makes frequent, effective use of particular cases, stories, and examples to illustrate the moral theory under discussion…. Throughout, Timmons is careful to present a balanced view of the theory—he mentions both the attractive points and the potential negative points of the theory in question. A useful appendix provides standards for evaluating moral theories. Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; general readers.


    — Choice Reviews


    The organization in Moral Theory: An Introduction is simply excellent. The framework for the book connects the whole together and the scope is better than other comparable texts I’ve seen.


    — Jason Matteson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas


    The best thing about Moral Theory might be that it clearly sets forth major aims of moral theory, derives some standards by which to assess moral theories from those aims, and then explicitly applies those standards to the moral theories explained.”


    — Lara Denis, Agnes Scott College


Features
Features
  • 1/31/23, Choice: This book was included in a roundup of top community college titles.

    Link: https://www.choice360.org/choice-pick/the-top-75-community-college-titles-january-2023-edition/



    New features

    New chapter on contractualism

    Revised chapter on virtue and care ethics

    Updated guide to terminology

    All chapters edited to prioritize student comprehension



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