Access to Religion and Philosophy: Issues of Life and Death Second Edition
Michael Wilcockson

ISBN: 9780340957752
Published: 27/02/2009
Paperback: 192 pages
Illustrations: photos and diagrams

£9.99

Each book in the Access to Religion and Philosophy series provides a concise and readable introduction to a key area in religious studies and philosophy for A Level students.

The second edition of An Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics has been updated in line with the revised 2008 A level specification requirements. It offers students a straightforward and concise outline of the key topics and arguments in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and provides a solid basis for those who are starting A level courses in Religious Studies or Philosophy.
Features include:
- Key questions throughout the chapters to help students focus on the key issues
- Key terms defined and explained throughout the chapters
- Profiles of key individuals - their contribution and significance
- More summary diagrams throughout to aid revision
- Revision checklists at the end of chapters
- New exam-style questions and tips at the end of each chapter.

Table of Contents
Preface
1 Value of life
What makes a life valuable?
Human beings and human persons
Sanctity of life arguments
Quality of life arguments
2 Suicide
Suicide and society
The psychology of suicide
Arguments against suicide
Arguments for suicide
Paternalism
3 Abortion and infanticide
Women's autonomy and rights
The personhood problem
The law and abortion
Hard cases
Normative ethical responses to abortion
4 Euthanaisa and doctors' ethics
A problem of definition
The law and euthanasia
Allowing to die and cutting short a life
Non-voluntary euthanasia
Normative ethical responses to euthanasia
5 Killing as Punishment
Capital punishment
Aims and justification of punishment
Retribution
Deterrence
Reform
Normative ethical responses to killing as punishment
6 War and Peace
Why war?
Public and private values and the use of lethal violence
Pacifism
War realism
Militarism
Just war
Normative ethical responses to war and peace
7 Nuclear War and Deterrence
The moral paradox of nuclear deterrence
Why use nuclear weapons?
The morality of nuclear war
The morality of nuclear deterrence
Normative ethical responses to nuclear war and deterrence
Glossary
Further reading
Index