The Right Thing to Do

Readings in Moral Philosophy

  • Textbook
The Right Thing to Do cover

The Right Thing to Do

Readings in Moral Philosophy

  • Textbook
Quantity
Pre-order. Available Jan 08 2026
$105.25 RRP $116.95 Website price saving $11.70 (10%)

Payment for this pre-order will be taken when the item becomes available

This title is available for exam copy requests

Description

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.

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.

Introductory essays by James Rachels and Stuart 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.

Table of Contents

*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

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Jan 08 2026
Format Paperback
Edition 9th
Extent 560
ISBN 9798765162354
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 5 bw illus
Dimensions 229 x 152 mm
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

James Rachels

James Rachels (1941-2003) was Professor of Philoso…

Anthology Editor

Stuart Rachels

Stuart Rachels is Associate Professor of Philosoph…

Related Titles

Environment: Staging