Examines presuppositions and philosophical commitments that support and shape moral theories. This book discusses topics belonging to 'metaethics', the study of moral concepts, language, and thought rather than a study of moral issues themselves. It brings to light various philosophical problems raised by moral theorizing.

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Objectivity and Subjectivity. Interpretations of Objectivity. Monism and Pluralism. This Way to Subjectivism. Subjectivity and Sentiment. Subjectivism and Skepticism. Relativism. Where Now?. Questions for Discussion and Reflection. Thinkers and Their Works and Further Reading. Notes. 2. Moral Theory and Moral Psychology. Moral Motivation. Virtue and Motivation. Self-interest and Morality. What about Luck?. Are Moral Considerations Overriding?. Where Now?. Questions for Discussion and Reflection. Thinkers and Their Works and Further Reading. Notes. 3. Forms of Moral Theory. Consequentialism. Kantian Non-consequentialism. Intuitionist Non-consequentialism. The Virtue-centered Approach. Contractarianism. Theories, Duties, and Metaethics. Where Now?. Questions for Discussion and Reflection. Thinkers and Their Works and Further Reading. Notes. 4. Naturalism and Non-naturalism. Naturalism. The Modern Debate about Naturalism. Reconstructed Naturalism. Non-cognitivist Alternatives. Hume and Naturalism. Reconnecting Facts and Values. Aristotle and Naturalism. Moral Facts and Explanation. What About God?. Where Now?. Questions for Discussion and Reflection. Thinkers and Their Works and Further Reading. Notes. Conclusion. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

Dimensions of Moral Theory examines the key presuppositions and philosophical commitments that support and shape moral theories. Many of the topics discussed belong to “metaethics,” the study of moral concepts, language, and thought rather than a study of moral issues themselves. Other topics are under the heading of “moral psychology” and concern fundamental issues about the nature of moral agents, moral motivation, and the roles of reason, desire, and pleasure in moral action and experience. The book introduces metaethical and moral psychological positions and arguments and shows how they are generated and why they are important. It thereby brings to light some of the most important philosophical problems raised by moral theorizing. This volume formulates these issues of moral epistemology, the metaphysics of moral value, and moral motivation in a clear and rigorous but non-technical manner.

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Objectivity and Subjectivity. 2. Moral Theory and Moral Psychology. 3. Forms of Moral Theory. 4. Naturalism and Non-naturalism. Conclusion. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.