The ninth edition of James Rachels' and Stuart Rachels' moral philosophy reader continues its legacy of providing students with foundational moral philosophy texts and a diverse collection of contemporary, thought-provoking essays.
Introductory essays by James Rachels supplement foundational readings in moral theory to provide students with a framework to engage with ethical issues. From discussions of right and wrong and duty and virtue, the book proceeds to contemporary themes so students may apply foundational concepts to current events and controversies. Eight new readings from Elizabeth Kolbert, Nicholas Kristof, David Frum, and Stuart Rachels engage students on topics of climate change, immigration, childcare and education, gun violence, and government authority.
*new to this edition Preface Introduction 1. A Short Introduction to Moral Philosophy, James Rachels 2. Some Basic Points about Arguments, James Rachels Is Morality Objective? 3. The Subjectivity of Values, J. L. Mackie 4. Our Sense of Right and Wrong, C. S. Lewis Theoretical Essays 5. Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill 6. Utilitarianism and Integrity, Bernard Williams 7. The Experience Machine, Robert Nozick 8. The Categorical Imperative, Immanuel Kant 9. The Virtues, Aristotle 10. Master Morality and Slave Morality, Friedrich Nietzsche 11. Caring Relations and Principles of Justice, Virginia Held Gender and Race 12. Homeward Bound, Linda Hirshman 13. The Case for Reparations, Ta-Nehisi Coates 14. In Defense of Quotas, James Rachels Sex, Date Rape, and Hazing 15. Our Sexual Ethics, Bertrand Russell 16. Alcohol and Rape, Nicholas Dixon 17. A Death at Penn State, Caitlin Flanagan Abortion 18. Summary of the Dobbs Decision, The Court Reporter's Office of the U.S. Supreme Court 19. On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion and Postscript on Infanticide, Mary Anne Warren 20. Why Abortion Is Immoral , Don Marquis 21. A Defense of Abortion, Judith Jarvis Thomson Poverty 22. Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Peter Singer *23. We Americans Neglect Our Children, Nicholas Kristof Climate Change *24. Climate Change from A to Z, Elizabeth Kolbert *25. The Climate Peril We Overlook, Nicholas Kristof Illicit Drugs 26. America’s Unjust Drug War, Michael Huemer 27. Is Doping Wrong? , Peter Singer Guns 28. Why Guns Shouldn’t Be Outlawed, Michael Huemer *29. How to Persuade Americans to Give Up Their Guns, David Frum *30. A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths, Nicholas Kristof Immigration and Taxes 31. The Case for Open Immigration, Michael Huemer *32. If Liberals Won't Enforce Borders, Fascists Will, David Frum 33. Is Taxation Theft?, Michael Huemer *34. The Authority of Government, Stuart Rachels Animals 35. All Animals Are Equal, Peter Singer 36. Torturing Puppies and Eating Meat: It’s All in Good Taste, Alastair Norcross Punishment and Torture 37. A Defense of the Death Penalty, Louis P. Pojman 38. Hellhole, Atul Gawande 39. Liberalism, Torture, and the Ticking Bomb, David Luban War and Terrorism 40. Fifty Years after Hiroshima, John Rawls 41. What Is Wrong with Terrorism?, Thomas Nagel Euthanasia, Healthcare, and Cloning 42. The Morality of Euthanasia, James Rachels 43. The Wrongfulness of Euthanasia, J. Gay-Williams 44. Letting Go: What Should Medicine Do When It Can’t Save Your Life?, Atul Gawande 45. Human Cloning and the Challenge of Regulation, John A. Robertson Meaning and Hope 46. The Meaning of Life, Richard Taylor *47. The Case for Hope, Nicholas Kristof Index
James Rachels was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. He wrote The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality, Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism, Can Ethics Provide Answers? And Other Essays in Moral Philosophy, Problems from Philosophy, and The Legacy of Socrates: Essays in Moral Philosophy. Stuart Rachels retired from teaching philosophy in 2024. He has revised several of James Rachels’ books, including The Elements of Moral Philosophy and The Right Thing to Do. He also wrote The Best I Saw in Chess: Games, Stories and Instruction from an Alabama Prodigy Who Became U.S. Champion.
Reviews for The Right Thing to Do: Readings in Moral Philosophy
This is an incredible anthology. Relevant, diverse, and challenging essays tackle some of the most important issues in moral philosophy. I recommend the book unreservedly. * J. Wade Allen, Austin Community College, USA * I have long used James and Stuart Rachels’s excellent reader for my ethics courses. It contains a fantastic sampling of essays by leading philosophers in the key areas in ethics. This newest edition preserves all that is best about earlier editions, while adding some very contemporary and relevant updates. * Matthew Wion, University of San Diego, USA *
