Books in the Routledge Studies in Ethics and Moral Theory series

This book presents and integrates new, interdisciplinary research into virtue, happiness, and the meaning of life by re-orienting these discussions around the concept of self-transcendence.

Offers answers to both normative and metaethical questions in a way that shows the interconnection of both types of questions, and also shows how a complete theory of reasons can be developed by moving back and forth between the two types of questions. This book combines attention to the details of the lived moral life.

As champions of deontology and consequentialism respectively, Kant and Sidgwick disagree on many important issues. However, close examination reveals a surprising amount of consensus on various topics including moral psychology, moral epistemology, and moral theology.

This volume presents new research on the role narrative plays in the cultivation of virtue. The chapters demonstrate how recent work from the philosophy of mind and action concerning our understanding of the self can shed new light on the nature of practical wisdom and human flourishing.

This book features essays from leading scholars who, rather than taking a strictly exegetical approach, show how discussions in moral philosophy can benefit from Wittgenstein¿s later philosophical work.

This book honours the pioneering work of Cora Diamond, one of the most important living moral philosophers. It develops and deepens a picture of moral philosophy by carrying out new work in what Diamond has called the realistic spirit.

This is a highly original and radical critique of contemporary moral theory. Paul Johnston skillfully demonstrates how much of recent moral philosophy runs aground on the issue of whether we can make correct judgements.

By bringing together influential critics of neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics with some of the strongest defenders of an Aristotelian approach, this collection provides a fresh assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Aristotelian virtue ethics and its contemporary interpretations. Contributors critically discuss and re-assess the neo-Aristotelian paradigm which has been predominant in the philosophical discourse on virtue for the past 30 years.

We are strongly inclined to believe in moral responsibility - the idea that certain human agents truly deserve moral praise or blame for some of their actions. Presenting the arguments for scepticism about moral responsibility, this title lays out the intricate dialectic involved in these issues.

Focuses on the ethics of treating individuals as though they are members of groups. This book raises many questions, including: Why do we feel more strongly about discrimination on certain grounds than discrimination on other grounds? And more. It is useful for students of philosophy, especially those with an interest in applied ethics.

Analyses ethics as a practice, explains why we have three moral theory-types, consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics, and argues for a fourth needs-based theory.

Contributes to existing literature on normative ethics with three discussions: the contrast between pragmatic and principled ethical views, discussion of diverse literature, and the idea that pattern-based reasons can be used to understand the pro-pragmatic and the pro-principled intuitions.

The way an individual's psychology is intertwined with their morality is the subject of this book.

Particularism is a justly popular topic in contemporary ethics across the world. This title is suitable reading for professionals and advanced students working in the area.

Presents a comparative study of the virtue ethics of Aristotle and Confucius. This book explores how they each reflect upon human good and virtue out of their respective cultural assumptions, conceptual frameworks, and philosophical perspectives.

A fascinating and original examination of the main debate in Kant's moral theory: whether moral actions have worth only if they are carried out from duty. It will appeal to Kant scholars and anyone interested in moral theory.

We are often pressed to forgive or in need of forgiveness: Wrongdoing is common. Even after a perpetrator has been taken to court and punished, forgiveness still has a role to play. How should a victim and a perpetrator relate to each other outside the courtroom, and how should others relate to them? Communicating about forgiveness is particularly urgent in cases of civil war and crimes against humanity inside a community where, if there were no forgiveness, the community would fall apart.Forgiveness is governed by social and, in particular, by moral norms. Do those who ask to be forgiven have to fulfil certain conditions for being granted forgiveness? And what does the granting of forgiveness consist in? We may feel like refusing to forgive those perpetrators who have committed the most horrendous crimes. But is such a refusal justified even if they repent their crimes? Could there be a duty for the victim to forgive? Can forgiveness be granted by a third party? Under which conditions may we forgive ourselves?The papers collected in this volume address all these questions, exploring the practice of forgiveness and its normative constraints. Topics include the ancient Chinese and the Christian traditions of forgiveness, the impact of forgiveness on the moral dignity and self-respect of the victim, self-forgiveness, the narrative of forgiveness, as well as the limits of forgiveness. Such limits may arise from the personal, historical, or political conditions of wrongdoing or from the emotional constraints of the victims.

This volume works to connect issues in environmental ethics with the best work in contemporary normative theory. In particular, the contributors use consequentialist theory to address central questions in environmental ethics, such as questions about what kinds of things have value; about decision-making in light of the long-term, intergenerational nature of environmental issues; and about the role that a state's being natural should play in ethical deliberation.