The Elements of Moral Philosophy
 

About the Third Edition

Readers familiar with previous editions of this book may want to know what changes have been made. The most conspicuous change is that a chapter on feminist ethics has been added. Other changes have been made here and there, mostly adding materian on different topics, but the only chapter that has been substantially altered is the concluding chapter on "What Would a Satisfactory Moral Theory Be Like?" My opinion about the proper answer to that question has changed since the second edition, and the revised chapter reflects that.
A number of people have given wise and generous advice. I have to thank especially Joseph L. Lombardi, Don Marquis, Rober J. Deltete, Donald N. McCloskey, Rick Gordon, Heather J. Gert, Keven M. Clermont, William O. Stephens, J. Angelo Corlett, David Phillips, Hal Walberg, Mark Franklin, David Johnson, Jonell DePetro, and James Baley.

Chapter 1

What Is Morality?

We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live.
SOCRATESE, AS REPORTED BY PLATO IN THE REPUBLIC (CA. 390 B.C.)

1.1. The Problem of Definition


Moral philosophy is the attempt to achieve a systematic understanding of the nature of morality and what it requires of us--in Socrates's words, of "how we ought to live," and why. It would be helpful, therefore, if we could begin with a simple, uncontroversial definition of what morality is. But that turns out to be impossible. There are many rival theories, each expounding a different conception of what it means to live morally, and any definition that goes beyond Socrates's simple formulation is bound to offend one or another of them.
This should make us cautious, but it need not paralyze us. In this chpater I will describe what I call the "minimum conception" of morality. As the name suggests, the minimum conception is a core that every moral theory should accept, at least as a starting point. We will begin by examining some recent moral controversies. The features of the minimum conception will emerge from our consideration of these examples.