Preface 9
PART ONE: THE STATUS or ETHICS
1 The Subjectivity of Values
1 Moral scepticism 15
2 Subjectivism 17
3 The multiplicity of second order questions 19
4 Is objectivity a real issue ? 20
5 Standards of evaluation 25
6 Hypothetical and categorical imperatives 27
7 The claim to objectivity 30
8 The argument from relativity 36
9 The argument from queerness 38
10 Patterns ofobjectification 42
11 The general goal of human life 46
12 Conclusion 48
2 The Meaning of 'Good'
1 The general meaning'of'good' 50
2 'Good' in moral contexts 59
3 Obligations and Reasons
1 'Is'and'ought' 64
2 The meaning of'ought' 73
3 Varieties of reason 77
4 Institutions 80
4 Universalizatioa
1 The first stage ofunioersalization: the irrelevance of numerical differences 83
2 The second stage of unicersaltzation: putting oneself in the other person's place 90
3 The third stage ofuniversalization: taking account ofdifferent tastes and rtooJ ideals 92
4 Subjective elements in universatization 97
PART TWO.* THE CONTENT OF ETHICS
3 The Object of Morality
1 Consequences of moral scepticism 105
2 A device for counteracting limited sympathies 107
3 The form of the device 111
4 Game theory analysis 115
5 The content of the device: conservatism or reform ? 120
6 Utilitarianism
1 Act utilitarianism 125
2 The ethics of fantasy 129
3 Morality in the narrow sense 134
4 Rule utilitarianism 136
5 The'proof of utility 140
6 Utility as desire-satisfaction 145
7 The malleability of morality 146
7 Consequentialism and Deontology
1 Conceptions of the good 149
2 The rationale of universalization 151
3 The need for secondary principles 154
4 Special relationships and the form of moral principles 157
5 Ends and means 159
6 Absolutism and the principle of double effect 160
g Elements of a Practical Morality
1 The good for man 169
2 Egoism, rights, and property 172
3 Liberty 180
4 Truth-telling, lies, and agreements 182
5 How princes should keep faith 184
6 F/r/w? 186
7 The motive for morality 189
8 Extensions of morality 193
9 The right to life 195
10 Conclusion 199
PART THREE: FRONTIERS OF ETHICS
9 Determinism, Responsibility, and Choice
1 Voluntary or intentional actions 203
2 Tfo? straight rule of responsibility 208
3 Causal determinism and human action 215
4 Hard and soft determinism 220
10 Religion, Law, and Politics
1 The theological frontier of ethics 227
2 Contacts and overlaps between morality and law 232
3 Political applications and extensions of morality 235
Notes and References 241
Index 247