Ethical Theories

Historical Texts

Aristotle

• Nichomachean Ethics.  The main statement of his ethical theory.

Marcus Aurelius

• The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius..  A classic statement of Stoic thought, from the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
   

Epictetus

• The Enchiridion.  Another short statement of Stoicism, written by a Roman slave.

John Dewey

• Human Nature and Conduct   Dewey's 1922 work which lays out the basics of his account of ethics.

Hume

• Book III ("Of Morals"), Treatise of Human Nature.  Philosopher Annette Baier argues that feminist ethical theory is indebted to Hume's moral theory.

• Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals.  The main work where Kant develops his moral theory.

• On Liberty. The classic defense of freedom of speech and action.
  
  
• Utilitarianism.  The statement of his general ethical theory.

Adam Smith

• The Theory of the Moral Sentiments.  Smith was influenced by, but ultimately rejected, Francis Hutchison's "moral sense" theory.

Other Resources

Commentaries on theories:

• Darwall, Steven.  lectures on ethics (including lectures on Mill, Kant, Aristotle, as well as relativism).
  
  
• Honderich, Ted. "Consequentialism, Moralities of Concern, and Selfishness."
  
  
• Sayre-McCord, Geoffrey.  Lectures on sections I and II of  Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals  (in PDF format).
  
  
• Velleman, David.  "A Brief Introduction to Kantian Ethics."  Written specifically for undergraduates (pdf).
  

Other theoretical issues:

• Dworkin, Ronald.  "Objectivity and Truth."  Philosophy & Public Affairs 25, no. 2 (Spring 1996).
  
  
• Hunt, Lester. "An Argument Against a Legal Duty to Rescue."   Journal of Social Philosophy (1995).
  
  
• Hunt, Lester.  "Flourishing Egoism."  Social Philosophy and Policy (1999).  A defense of a particular sort of ethical egoism.
  
  
• LaFollette, Hugh.   "The Truth in Ethical Relativism."  Journal of Social Philosophy, 1991, 146-54. [pdf]
  
  
• LaFollette, Hugh.  "The Truth in Psychological Egoism."  [pdf] From Reason and Responsibility (7^th edition).
  
  
• Sobel, David.  "Well-Being as the Object of Moral Consideration."  From Economics and Philosophy (1998).  Supports consequentialist views that adopt the "autonomy principle" over more "welfarist" versions of consequentialism.
  

Links to multiple sites on ethics:

• British site with links to many ethical theories.
  
  

back to the home page