The Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics

Abstract Normative ethics is the study of what makes actions right or wrong and it includes such approaches as consequentialism, traditional deontology (including Kantian theory), virtue theory (including Aristotelian theory), and the ethics of care, a feminist approach. With contributions from more than 40 philosophers, The Oxford Handbook of Normative Ethics provides an overview of the major issues in contemporary normative ethics. The handbook begins with an introduction that provides an overview of the field and the relationships among the topics addressed in the volume. Part I presents basic distinctions, introducing consequentialism, deontology, virtue theory, and value theory. Part II focuses on methodology in normative ethics and epistemological questions. Part III spotlights issues in responsibility and agency. Part IV is dedicated to general problems for normative theories, including particularism, collective action problems, and moral status.