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.

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.

William James

• "The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life."  Lecture to the Yale Philosophical Club.  The lecture was published (1891) in the International Journal of Ethics.

John Dewey

• Human Nature and Conduct.  The development of Dewey's ethics.
   
• How We Think.  Although not expressly a book on ethics, his account of thought both shapes and reflects his views on ethical thought.

• On Liberty. The classic defense of freedom of speech and action.
  
  
• Utilitarianism.  The statement of his general ethical theory.
  
  
• Utilitarianism. A heavily abridged version of the book.

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:

• 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).
  
  

Other theoretical issues:

• 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).
   
• Rachels, James.  Several issues on ethical theory—as well as practical ethics, at the James Rachels page.
  
  

Links to multiple sites on ethics:

• British site with links to many ethical theories.
  
  
• Philosophy Papers
  An amazing resource!  Search an enormous database of philosophy articles.  Read articles posted on the web or available (electronically) through your university library (you will have to configure your proxy server for off-campus library access; instructions are on the site and easy to follow).
  
  

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