Ethics and moral philosophy Books

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Book SynopsisHow to live meaningfully in the face of the unknowableWe human beings had no say in existingwe just opened our eyes and found ourselves here. We have a fundamental need to understand who we are and the world we live in. Reason takes us a long way, but mystery remains. When our minds and senses are baffled, faith can seem justifiedbut faith is not knowledge. In Ultimate Questions, acclaimed philosopher Bryan Magee provocatively argues that we have no way of fathoming our own natures or finding definitive answers to the big questions we all face.With eloquence and grace, Magee urges us to be the mapmakers of what is intelligible, and to identify the boundaries of meaningfulness. He traces this tradition of thought to his chief philosophical mentorsLocke, Hume, Kant, and Schopenhauerand shows why this approach to the enigma of existence can enrich our lives and transform our understanding of the human predicament. As Magee puts it, There is a world of difference between being lost in the daylight and being lost in the dark.The crowning achievement to a distinguished philosophical career, Ultimate Questions is a deeply personal meditation on the meaning of life and the ways we should live and face death.Trade Review"Magee's writing always makes very easy reading."--Anthony Kenny, Standpoint "[Magee] writes with relaxed fluency."--Rowan Williams, New Statesman "[Bryan Magee] writes with grace and offers a thoughtful summation of human experience."--Library Journal "Living and dying in a world we accept we do not understand may not sound easy, but if Magee is any guide, the reward of doing so is endless and profound wonder."--Julian Baggini, Independent "Magee is refreshingly comfortable acknowledging the uncanniness of human experience, including the aesthetic as well as the ethical... His case for acknowledging the extent of what we do not know is a useful corrective to 'jolly hockey sticks' humanism as well as religious dogma."--Dolan Cummings, Spiked "[Ultimate Questions] is ... a deeply personal and elegant summary of [Magee's] own individual journey to and through profound philosophical questions."--ChoiceTable of Contents1 Time and Space 1 2 Finding Our Bearings 17 3 The Human Predicament 33 4 Can Experience Be Understood? 59 5 Where Such Ideas Come From 69 6 Personal Reflections 87 7 Our Predicament Summarized 105 Index 129

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Without Offending Humans is an excellent, timely, well-argued book. Élisabeth de Fontenay is an original thinker, urging us to consider a rethought version of historical materialism and a utopic animalism." —Leonard Lawler, author of Early Twentieth Century Continental PhilosophyTable of ContentsContentsPreface1. Their Secret Elect2. The Improper3. Between Possessions and Persons4. Rhetorics of Dehumanization5. They Are Sleeping and We Are Watching over Them6. The Pathetic Pranks of Bio-Art7. The Ordinariness of BarbarityNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisDesigned to facilitate a thoughtful and informed reading of Spinoza's 'Ethics', this anthology includes the Ethics in its entirety, and Spinoza's related writings along with two appendices: list of the Propositions from the 'Ethics', which helps the reader trace the development of key themes; and Citations in Proofs.Trade ReviewAbsolutely magnificent edition! I will be using it in all my introductory courses. . . . I also will use it in my 16th and 17th-century History of Philosophy course. . . . Just a wonderful collection, great translations, good editorial additions as well. Terrific selection! --Abba Lessing, Professor of Philosophy, Lake Forest College

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Book SynopsisApplied or practical ethics is perhaps the largest growth area in philosophy, and many issues in moral, social, and political life have come under philosophical scrutiny in years. This title offers a guide to many significant problems of practical ethics. It offers accounts of issues in medical, environmental, legal, social, and business ethics.Trade Review“The Companion to Applied Ethics offers accessible essays by many of the leading writers in the field. It is a superb introduction to applied ethics for students and the interested reader alike.” Peter Singer, Princeton University "The choice of essays is a solid representation of the various investigations and arguments that address important issues in the field of applied ethics. The book's organization allows it to be useful in a number of ways: as a straight reference work, as a reader on allied topics or as an anthology of significant philosophical issues. It is an important work valuable for students, general readers and seasoned specialists." Reference Reviews “Anyone who wants to know the ‘state of the art’ in applied ethics should start here. Frey and Wellman have assembled a collection of first-rate essays by the leading figures in the field. There is no better introduction to this exciting area of philosophy.” James Rachels, University of Alabama at BirminghamTable of ContentsNotes on Contributors. Preface. 1. The Nature of Applied Ethics: Tom L. Beauchamp. 2. Theories of Ethics Stephen: L. Darwall. 3. Property Rights and Welfare Redistribution: Jeremy Waldron. 4. Civil Disobedience and the Duty to Obey the Law: A. John Simmons. 5. Capitalism and Marxism: Richard W. Miller. 6. State Punishment and the Death Penalty: David Dolinko. 7. Racism: Michele Moody-Adams. 8. Sexism: Ann E. Cudd and Leslie E. Jones. 9. Affirmative Action: Bernard Boxill and Jan Boxill. 10. The Legal Enforcement of Morality: Larry Alexander. 11. Hate Crimes, Literature, and Speech: L. W. Sumner. 12. Pornography and Censorship: Lori Gruen. 13. Dirty Hands: Gerald F. Gaus. 14. Sexual Ethics: Alan H. Goldman. 15. Gun Control: Lance Stell. 16. Citizenship: Wayne Norman and Will Kymlicka. 17. Immigration: Michael Blake. 18. World Hunger: Hugh LaFollette. 19. War and Terrorism: C. A. J. Coady. 20. Nationalism and Secession: Christopher Heath Wellman. 21. Intergenerational Justice: Clark Wolf. 22. Bioethics: Margaret P. Battin. 23. Abortion: Margaret Olivia Little. 24. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Michael Tooley. 25. Reproductive Technology: John D. Arras. 26. Genetic Engineering: Dan W. Brock. 27. Surrogate Motherhood: Rosemarie Tong. 28. Cloning: John Harris. 29. Allocation of Medical Resources: H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. and Ana Smith Iltis. 30. Experimentation on Human Subjects: Patrick Boleyn-Fitzgerald. 31. Disability: Leslie Pickering Francis. 32. Moral Status: Mary Anne Warren. 33. Killing and Letting Die: Alastair Norcross. 34. The Doctrine of Double Effect: R. G. Frey. 35. Bad Samaritans, Acts and Omissions: Patricia Smith. 36. Moral Dilemmas: N. Ann Davis. 37. Education: Amy Gutmann. 38. Personal Relationships: Lawrence A. Blum. 39. Animals: Jeff McMahan. 40. Business Ethics: Patricia H. Werhane and R. Edward Freeman. 41. Corporate Responsibility: R. Edward Freeman and Patricia H. Werhane. 42. Whistle-blowing: Terrance McConnell. 43. Professional Ethics: David Luban. 44. Media Ethics: Judith Lichtenberg. 45. Computer Ethics: Deborah G. Johnson. 46. Engineering Ethics: Michael S. Pritchard. 47. Environmental Ethics: Andrew Light. 48. Values in Nature: Dale Jamieson. 49. The Tragedy of the Commons: David Schmidtz and Elizabeth Willott. 50. Global Warming: Robert Hood. Index

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Book SynopsisNAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORKER AND THE ECONOMIST“Life Is Hard is a humane consolation for challenging times. Reading it is like speaking with a thoughtful friend who never tells you to cheer up, but, by offering gentle companionship and a change of perspective, makes you feel better anyway.” —The New York Times Book Review There is no cure for the human condition: life is hard. But Kieran Setiya believes philosophy can help. He offers us a map for navigating rough terrain, from personal trauma to the injustice and absurdity of the world. In this profound and personal book, Setiya shows how the tools of philosophy can help us find our way. Drawing on ancient and modern philosophy as well as fiction, history, memoir, film, comedy, social science, and stories from Setiya’s own experience, Life Is Hard is a book for this moment—a work of solace and compassion

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Book SynopsisBritish Idealist philosopher F. H. Bradley (18461924) argues against the dominant ethical theories of his time in this book, first published in 1876. It is a polemical work that examines utilitarianism, Kantian ethics and popular views of basic concepts in moral philosophy, and argues that they are fundamentally flawed.Table of ContentsPreface; 1. The vulgar notion of responsibility in connection with the theories of free-will and necessity; 2. Why should I be moral?; 3. Pleasure for pleasure's sake; 4. Duty for duty's sake; 5. My station and its duties; 6. Ideal morality; 7. Selfishness and self-sacrifice; Concluding remarks.

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Book SynopsisMoral Realism is a systematic defence of the idea that there are objective moral standards. In the tradition of Plato and G. E. Moore, Russ Shafer-Landau argues that there are moral principles that are true independently of what anyone, anywhere, happens to think of them. These principles are a fundamental aspect of reality, just as much as those that govern mathematics or the natural world. They may be true regardless of our ability to grasp them, and their truth is not a matter of their being ratified from any ideal standpoint, nor of being the object of actual or hypothetical consensus, nor of being an expression of our rational nature. Shafer-Landau accepts Plato''s and Moore''s contention that moral truths are sui generis. He rejects the currently popular efforts to conceive of ethics as a kind of science, and insists that moral truths and properties occupy a distinctive area in our ontology. Unlike scientific truths, the fundamental moral principles are knowable a priori. And unlTrade ReviewA book of remarkable scope and ambition . . . clear and engaging throughout . . . [Shafer-Landau] develops a number of novel arguments for what is sure to be a controversial set of mutually supporting and philosophically interesting positions. . . . very much worth reading. It is also accessible and engaging enough to be useful for teaching advanced undergraduates. * Michael Ridge, Australasian Journal of Philosophy *Table of ContentsI. REALISM AND ITS CRITICS ; II. MORAL METAPHYSICS ; III. MORAL MOTIVATION ; IV. MORAL REASONS ; V. MORAL KNOWLEDGE

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Book SynopsisReckoning with one's role in perpetuating systematic inequality, Bruce Robbins examines the implications of a humanitarianism in which the prosperous are the both the cause and the beneficiaries of the abhorrent conditions they seek to remedy.Trade Review"In The Beneficiary, Bruce Robbins wants to make room for the note of guilt in our songs of gratitude. Who is a beneficiary? Robbins’s answer is that it is probably you. . . . Perhaps in the future tallying up the planetary cost of national happiness will become so painful we’ll give up that thought experiment altogether. But if Robbins has his way, we’ll not only still be thinking globally — we’ll live in a world that makes doing so tolerable." -- Christina Lupton * Los Angeles Review of Books *"The Beneficiary succeeds brilliantly in focusing its readers on the urgencies of our time." -- Michael Rothberg * Contemporary Literature *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1. The Starving Child 15 2. You Acquiesce In It: George Orwell on the System 33 3. A Short History of Commodity Recognition 51 4. The Nation-State as Agent of Cosmopolitanism 75 5. Naomi Klein's Love Story 93 6. Life Will Win 117 Conclusion: You Can't Handle the Truth 139 Notes 155 Bibliography 169 Index 177

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Two of the most important political movements of the late twentieth century are those of environmentalism and feminism. In this book, Val Plumwood argues that feminist theory has an important opportunity to make a major contribution to the debates in political ecology and environmental philosophy. Feminism and the Mastery of Nature explains the relation between ecofeminism, or ecological feminism, and other feminist theories including radical green theories such as deep ecology. Val Plumwood provides a philosophically informed account of the relation of women and nature, and shows how relating male domination to the domination of nature is important and yet remains a dilemma for women.

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Book SynopsisRipstein gives a comprehensive yet accessible account of Kant's political philosophy. In addition to providing a clear and coherent statement of the most misunderstood of Kant's ideas, Ripstein also shows that Kant's views remain conceptually powerful and morally appealing today.Trade ReviewOne sunny spring day nearly forty years ago, I was sitting in an open air café in Ithaca, New York, having coffee with Hans-Georg Gadamer… Gadamer said that the biggest single lacuna in Kant studies was the absence of a really good book on Kant’s Rechtslehre. It ought to be a book, he declared, that did not start out from Kantian ethics, but instead expounded Kant’s theory of human rights, law and politics authentically, solely on the ground of Kant’s concept of Recht: external freedom according to universal law… Until now, however, I have never found the book Gadamer thought so badly needed to be written. But this book finally appears to be it. -- Allen Wood * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *There can be little doubt that this is the book against which all other interpretations of Kant’s legal and political theory will be measured. -- Andrew Botterell * Canadian Journal of Political Science *Force and Freedom is arguably the best book ever written on Kant’s legal and political philosophy. -- Jon Mandle * Dialogue *A prominent feature of the landscape in moral philosophy and its history during the past forty years has been the simultaneous flowering of scholarship on Kant, alongside Kantian approaches to contemporary ethical theory. Kant’s legal and political philosophies have fared less well, however. With some notable exceptions, they have attracted less sustained scholarly interest and inspired nothing like the contributions to current debates of Kantian moral philosophers such as Herman, Hill, and Korsgaard. Arthur Ripstein’s Force and Freedom goes a long way to redressing this imbalance. It provides both a beautifully clear and insightful interpretation of the relevant Kantian texts as well as a sympathetic and forceful presentation of their central claims and arguments as Ripstein interprets them. It is a remarkable achievement. -- Stephen Darwall * Legal Theory *This is one of the best books on Kant’s legal philosophy to appear to date. It is both an outstanding commentary on Kant and an important work of legal-political philosophy with much contemporary relevance. What is perhaps most impressive about this book is how much unity it uncovers in Kant’s legal and political thought. -- Martin J. Stone, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawThis masterful treatment of Kant’s legal and political philosophy gets to the heart of Kant’s endeavor and its virtues with wonderful clarity—a terrific achievement. We learn from Ripstein both how Kant’s legal and political philosophy is best understood and how this philosophy can be defended and employed in ongoing philosophical debates. I regard this as the very best kind of approach to the history of philosophy. -- A. John Simmons, University of VirginiaTable of Contents* Preface * Acknowledgment *1. Kant on Law and Justice *2. The Innate Right of Humanity *3. Private Right I: Acquired Rights *4. Private Right II: Property *5. Private Right III: Contract and Consent *6. Three Defects in the State of Nature *7. Public Right I: Giving Laws to Ourselves *8. Public Right II: Roads to Freedom *9. Public Right III: Redistribution and Equality of Opportunity *10. Public Right IV: Punishment *11. Public Right V: Revolution and the Right of Human Beings as Such * Appendix "A Postulate Incapable of Further Proof"

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Book SynopsisThis book presents an innovative reading of Daoist philosophy that highlights the critical and therapeutic functions of satire and humor. Moeller and D’Ambrosio show how the Zhuangzi expounds the Daoist art of “genuine pretending”: the paradoxical skill of enacting social roles without submitting to them or letting them define one’s identity.Trade Review[The book's] scholarship is first rate and the contribution original and timely. The authors offer genuinely illuminating and original readings of many of the widely discussed parts of the Zhuangzi. -- Barry Allen, McMaster University A highly insightful new reading of the Zhuangzi that is exceptionally sensitive to both philosophical and textual subtleties, highlighting the key theme of genuine pretending-the adoption of multiple roles while maintaining a form of radical flexibility that prevents full identification, thereby allowing all roles to be at once fulfilled and transcended. -- Brook Ziporyn, University of Chicago Divinity SchoolTable of ContentsForeword by Chen GuyingPrefaceIntroduction: A Joker in the Fold1. Sincerity, Authenticity, and Ancient Chinese Philosophy2. The Confucian Regime of Sincerity3. Philosophical Humor and Incongruity in the Zhuangzi4. Smooth Operators: The Arts of Genuine PretendingConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The publication of Utopophobia is a major event . . . the book is written in a crystal clear and yet almost poetic style. . . . It provides the most careful and extensive defence of ideal theory to date."---Jacob Barrett, Mind"Utopophobia is a monumental achievement."---Zofia Stemplowska, Phil Studies"Masterful . . . fascinating and delightfully heretical."---Nic Southwood, Phil Studies"David Estlund is a leading political philosopher….he further cements himself as a crucial figure in ideal theory. … This book stakes out clear territory for the value of ideal theory against the challenge brought by nonideal theorists. …an impressive piece of philosophy."---Ryan Muldoon, Review of Politics

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This inspiring meditation on kindness from the author of Lincoln in the Bardo is based on his popular commencement address.Three months after George Saunders gave a graduation address at Syracuse University, a transcript of that speech was posted on the website of The New York Times, where its simple, uplifting message struck a deep chord. Within days, it had been shared more than one million times. Why? Because Saunders’s words tap into a desire in all of us to lead kinder, more fulfilling lives. Powerful, funny, and wise, Congratulations, by the way is an inspiring message from one of today’s most influential and original writers.Praise for Congratulations, by the way“As slender as a psalm, and as heavy.”—The New York Times “The graduating college senior in your life probably just wants money. But if

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Book SynopsisHighlights challenges facing the animal rights movement. This book contains essays that explore fresh ways of measuring animal suffering, reassess the question of personhood, and draw highlight of tales of effective advocacy.Trade Review“Paul McCartney once said that if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian. This book continues Peter Singer's important, urgent project of turning these walls, one by one, to glass. The essays alert us to the holocaust that continues in farms and laboratories; a holocaust that most people ignore - not because they are bad people, but, perhaps, because the horror of what we do to animals is too big to contemplate. … The wonderful essays in this book remind us that any form of humanism must respect all sentient beings, and that a culture that can create workers who can bear listening to the screams of the "animals" they kill … and that can also create people who are prepared to look the other way and enjoy the spoils of the whole endeavour - is a culture that is not only cruel and deluded, but well primed for the next human holocaust.” The Independent on Sunday "Peter Singer’s writing changed my life. I have waited for this book for a long time, a quarter of a century in fact. What an exquisite collection of fine writers with compelling philosophies, philosophies that translate into positive ways to change society and one’s own daily life for the better.” Ingrid Newkirk, President, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) “A survey of the new wave of philosophy, science, and action in the cause of animals. The theoretical essays give a masterly overview of the field, while the essays on animal-rights activism are engaging and full of good sense.” J. M. Coetzee, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 2003 “Take your fork out of that animal on your plate, and sit down in a comfortable chair and read this book instead. Essential reading for anyone who cares deeply about the lives of animals.” Jeffrey Masson, author of The Pig Who Sang to the Moon "I welcome the era when overwhelming, unconscionable cruelty is not longer the outstanding feature of people's interactions with animals. The books under review facilitate that era's arrival." Peter S. Wenz, Social Theory and PracticeTable of ContentsPreface Peter Singer. Part I: The Ideas. 1. Utilitarianism and Animals: Gaverick Matheny. 2. The Scientific Basis for Assessing Suffering in Animals: Marian Stamp Dawkins. 3. The Animal Debate: A Re-Examination: Paola Cavalieri. 4. On the Question of Personhood Beyond Homo sapiens: David DeGrazia. 5. Religion and Animals: Paul Waldau. Part II: The Problems. 6. Speciesism in the Laboratory: Richard Ryder. 7. Brave New Farm?: Jim Mason and Mary Finelli. 8. Outlawed in Europe: Clare Druce and Philip Lymbery. 9. Against Zoos: Dale Jamieson. 10. To Eat the Laughing Animal: Dale Peterson. Part III: Activists and Their Strategies. 11. How Austria Achieved a Historic Breakthrough for Animals: Martin Balluch. 12. Butcher Knives into Pruning Hooks: Doing Civil Disobedience for Animals: Pelle Strindlund. 13. Opening Cages, Opening Eyes: An Investigation and Open Rescue at an Egg Factory Farm: Miyun Park. 14. Living and Working in Defense of Animals: Matt Ball. 15. Effective Advocacy: Stealing From the Corporate Playbook: Bruce Friedrich. 16. Moving the Media: From Foe, or Indifferent Stranger, to Friend: Karen Dawn. 17. The CEO as Animal Activist: John Mackey and Whole Foods: John Mackey, Karen Dawn and Lauren Ornelas. 18. Ten Points for Activists: Henry Spira and Peter Singer. A Final Word: Peter Singer. Further Reading, Useful Organizations. Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2011 Award for Excellence in Biology & Life Sciences, Association of American Publishers""One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2012""[Patricia Churchland] finds that morality is all about empathy. . . . Churchland is also 'biological' about morality, seeing it as an adaptation that our brains have evolved in order to cement social ties. With a series of examples, she rejects the idea that morality is a set of rules and codes handed down from on high, without which we would all behave badley."---Matt Ridley, Wall Street Journal"Churchland's discussion puts . . . areas of research prone to over-interpretation into much-needed perspective. . . . In my view, by illuminating the biological foundations on which caring, cooperation and social understanding are based, and by arguing against simplistic views about innateness and divine ordination, Churchland has delineated the conceptual space still to be navigated concerning which actions are morally right, how we come to those decisions, and how we justify them."---Adina L. Roskies, Nature"Churchland provides an important service in Braintrust by applying recent scientific research to moral concerns."---Richard S. Mathis, Science"Intriguing. . . . The puzzle that concerns [Churchland] above all is whether morality can be explained or justified by science."---Margaret A. Boden, Times Higher Education"Churchland's superbly written, dense-with-thinking book is fiercely alert to what can and cannot justifiably be inferred from modern science. She is a brilliantly precise (and often slyly funny) demolisher of exaggerated claims."---Steven Poole, Guardian"Churchland, by insisting that morality is neither an innate instinct nor an abstract system, but rather a tough, practical problem posed by our instincts, is bringing together the best in both neuroscientific and philosophical thinking."---Josh Rothman, Boston Globe's Brainiac blog"What is morality? Where does it come from? According to neurophilosopher Patricia S. Churchland in her book Braintrust, morality originates in the brain. She argues that over time the human brain evolved to feel social pain and pleasure. As humans evolved to care about the wellbeing of others, they also developed a sense of morality."---Victoria Stern, Scientific American Mind"Churchland guides the reader through lucid, well-articulated explanations of subjects like oxytocin's effect on an individual's hormonal makeup, brain changes over time, and relevant gene research, tying these neuroscientific elements together with more social science oriented areas like cooperation, trust, and rule creation. . . . In bringing together aspects of philosophy and neuroscience, Churchland presents a persuasive argument that morality is not shaped solely by religious or social forces but, instead, also draws on hormonal triggers, genes, and brain evolution. This influential work is likely to be a valuable resource for anyone seeking to gain a fresh, exciting perspective on an oft-discussed area of philosophy."---Elizabeth Millard, ForeWord Reviews"I feel this will be an important book. In many ways it will probably complement The Moral Landscape because it deals clearly with some of the critiques made of Sam's approach. Particularly those made by scientists and non-religious philosophers. . . . [Churchland] is eminently qualified to cover the subject as a philosopher with a special interest in neuroscience. And the time is ripe for this sort of coverage."---Ken Perrott, Open Parachute"The book is about: morality, fairness and the source of both. But don't expect tight definitions of either term, let alone a didactic treatise on human evolution. Instead, sit back and let Churchland run her ideas past you. She's so chatty you'll never guess the University of California, San Diego, philosopher is associated with a school of thought called eliminative materialism. (Don't ask. Even a philosopher friend was fuzzy on the details.) She's just plain interesting."---Leigh Dayton, Australian"[Churchland] has been best known for her work on the nature of consciousness. But now, with a new book, Braintrust: What Neuroscience Tells Us about Morality, she is taking her perspective into fresh terrain: ethics. And the story she tells about morality is, as you'd expect, heavily biological, emphasizing the role of the peptide oxytocin, as well as related neurochemicals. . . . Hers is a bottom-up, biological story, but, in her telling, it also has implications for ethical theory. Morality turns out to be not a quest for overarching principles but rather a process and practice not very different from negotiating our way through day-to-day social life."---Christopher Shea, Chronicle Review"The account of the nature and origins of morality that Churchland sketches here is thoroughly naturalistic and thoroughly grounded in the sciences. But it is also humanistic. . . . For [Churchland], although the capacities that make us moral are the products of evolution and can be explained in detail by neuroscience, the content of morality is very importantly the product of human culture."---Neil Levy, Philosopher's Magazine"Makes a compelling case…. This smart, lucid and often entertaining book will give any curious mind a good overview of how the brain learns to distinguish right from wrong."---Ferris Jabr, New Scientist"Churchland's eloquent prose offers a guided tour to recent work at the crossroads of neurology, cognitive psychology, genetics, and evolutionary biology, highlighting their rich, and occasionally surprising, implications for social phenomena. As such, the book will appeal not only to students but also to a wider audience who might be keen to attend to a reliable, constructive, scientifically grounded, and clearly unfolding narration about human life."---Anthony Hatzimoysis, Metascience"Braintrust is a well written and informative book--its strength, and bulk, consists of the amalgamated empirical research on social behavior and Churchland's empirical speculation on the role of oxytocin in the evolution of morality and social decision-making."---Anton Petrenko, Philosophy in Review"This empirically based, superbly argued text by Churchland undoubtedly will ruffle many feathers. . . . Churchland eloquently defends the naturalization of morality, inviting readers to reconsider such normatively significant notions as empathy, caring, and trust in light of new understandings of the role of oxytocin and other hormones, possibilities inherent in mirror neurons, and distinctions between various forms of psychopathy and normal behaviors. Additionally, she tackles head-on deeply rooted philosophical challenges that are motivated by the famous is-ought fallacy or embedded in more traditional moral theories such as consequentialism or deontology. Though Churchland's approach is cautious, it is convincing." * Choice *"Patricia Churchland opens a can of contemporary ethical conundrums with deftly explained and richly annotated neuro-physiological evidence. Braintrust is a welcome addition to the interdisciplinary literature bridging the chasm said to exist between 'is and ought,' epitomized by the Natural Fallacy."---Stanley Shostak, European Legacy"Clearly written and pleasant to read, Braintrust is recommended for all readers who are interested in the relevance that the behavioral sciences might have in shedding light on human morality and in the way in which morality is culturally and historically molded to satisfy our everyday needs."---Daniele Macuglia, Quarterly Review of Biology"Researchers interested in cooperation, moral psychology, and empirically-informed metaethics could happily and rewardingly immerse themselves in Braintrust."---Benjamin James Fraser, Biology and Philosophy

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Book SynopsisIn The Moral Imagination, Gertrude Himmelfarb, one of America''s most distinguished intellectual historians, explores the minds and lives of some of the most brilliant and provocative thinkers of modern times. In their distinctive ways, she argues, they exemplify what Burke two centuries ago and Trilling most recently have called the moral imagination. Himmelfarb describes how each of these thinkers, coming from different traditions, responding to different concerns, and writing in different genres, shared a moral passion that permeated their work. It is this passion that makes their reflectionson politics and literature, religion and society, marriage and sexsometimes unpredictable, often controversial, always exciting, and as illuminating and pertinent today as they were then. The second edition includes a revised introduction and three new essays on Adam Smith, Lord Acton, and Alfred Marshall.Trade ReviewThe Scrapbook is a big fan of the distinguished historian Gertrude Himmelfarb,(Really, who isn't?) So we were very pleased to learn that Rowman & Littlefield has just published a new, expanded edition of her superb collection of essays The Moral Imagination. The subtitle of the 2006 edition was “From Edmund Burke to Lionel Trilling.” The new subtitle is “From Adam Smith to Lionel Trilling,” reflecting the fact that the new volume features three additional essays, on Smith, Lord Acton, and Alfred Marshall. So now you get 15 dazzling studies of men ranging from John Stuart Mill to Michael Buchan, and Walter Bagehot to Winston Churchill. And, The Scrapbook hastens to add only partly for fear of being accused of complicity in the famed war on women, not just men-the essays on Jane Austen and George Eliot are two of our favorites. Buy the book and send copies to your friends-you’ll thank us for the recommendation, and they’ll thank you (and Himmelfarb) for the reading enjoyment, the historical education, and the intellectual stimulation. * The Weekly Standard *Fresh insights are to be found throughout the book by juxtaposing authors, by understanding them within their own times, by pulling them out and learning from them as if they were our contemporaries. . . .Moral imagination is not the sum total of wisdom, but it is clear from this collection of essays that it is a necessary part of it. The subjects of her essays have helped form our moral imaginations, almost entirely for the better, and reading this book is an excellent way to see how it was done. * Society *Gertrude Himmelfarb has single-handedly revived the prestige of the Victorians. Her writings on such figures as Lord Acton, Charles Darwin, John Stuart Mill, George Eliot, and others, along with the topics of social and political life among the the Victorians, has demonstrated how truly eminent the Victorians were. Professor Himmelfarb's books make unmistakably plain that Victorian England was an artistic and intellectual period that rivaled that of fifth century Athens and was perhaps as great an era as any the western world has known. I do not know any intellectual achievement on the part of an historian over the past century that compares to Gertrude Himmelfarb's. -- Joseph EpsteinIn fifteen lapidary essays, Gertrude Himmelfarb, America's greatest historian of 19th and 20th century thinkers and their thoughts, provides a map of the intellectual terrain we still inhabit and a path to higher moral ground. -- George F. Will, syndicated columnist for The Washington PostGertrude Himmelfarb has given us history that's fun again, written in prose so graceful that you almost don't notice the breathtaking erudition. Let The Moral Imagination fall open to any random page and read. You won't stop. -- Charles MurrayGertrude Himmelfarb undertakes a subtle, often lyrical, examination of the moral sensibilities that underlie social and political life by way of a series of brilliant critiques/appreciations of the great Anglo-American writers that have most shaped hers. The result is an intellectual tour de force–a meditation on conservatism as political, philosophical and moral modesty–that is prodigiously learned, profoundly wise and remarkably timely. -- Charles KrauthammerTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Adam Smith: Political Economist cum Moral Philosopher Chapter 2: Edmund Burke: Apologist for Judaism? Chapter 3: George Eliot: The Wisdom of Dorothea Chapter 4: Jane Austen: The Education of Emma Chapter 5: Charles Dickens: “A Low Writer” Chapter 6: Benjamin Disraeli: The Tory Imagination Chapter 7: John Stuart Mill: The Other Mill Chapter 8: Walter Bagehot: “A Divided Nature” Chapter 9: Lord Acton: The Historian as Moralist Chapter 10: Alfred Marshall: “The Economics of Chivalry Chapter 11: John Buchan: An Untimely Appreciation Chapter 12: The Knoxes: A God-Haunted Family Chapter 13: Michael Oakeshott: The Conservative Disposition Chapter 14: Winston Churchill: “Quite Simply, a Great Man” Chapter 15: Lionel Trilling: The Moral Imagination Notes Index

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Book SynopsisPresents an anthology to cover the virtue ethics component of an ethics course, either in conjunction with one of the larger ethics texts, as the centrepiece of a course devoted to virtue theory, or as a component of an introductory course that includes a section on ethics.

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Book SynopsisThis handbook provides detailed philosophical analysis of the life and thought of Socrates across fifteen in-depth chapters. Each chapter engages with a central aspect of the rich tradition of Socratic studies and, after surveying the state of scholarship, points the way forward to new directions of interpretation. A leading team of scholars present dynamic readings of Socrates, extracted from the historical context of Plato's dialogues, covering elenchus, irony, ignorance, definitions, pedagogy, friendship, politics and the daemon. Building on these core Socratic topics, this edition includes new accounts of Socrates in the work of philosopher and historian, Xenophon, the comic playwright, Aristophanes, as well as important scholarship on topics such as emotions, the afterlife, motivational intellectualism and virtue intellectualism. Fully revised and updated, the Bloomsbury Handbook of Socrates elucidates the complex landscape of Socratic thought and interpretaTrade Review(From the first edition) Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers. -- CHOICE(From the first edition) This new companion to Socrates will be very welcome to scholars. The book aims "to assemble a comprehensive guide to the main issues engaged in the philosophy of Socrates". These essays fulfill that aim admirably. -- Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewSocrates wrote nothing, but the impact (both of his person and of his thought) was decisive already in antiquity and not least in the history of later philosophy (even up to the present day). This book, which brings together fifteen contributions from leading Socratic scholars, offers a helpful mapping to reconstruct Socrates’ thought, his argumentative strategies, and the main problems he addresses. * Marcelo D. Boeri, Professor of Philosophy, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile *Together with other recent books on Socrates, the new revised edition of the Bloomsbury Handbook is a sign of the vitality, diversity, and creativity of Socratic Studies today. This volume will serve as a useful and inspiring touchstone not only for those investigating Socrates through the prism of the analytic school of interpretation pioneered by Gregory Vlastos, but for all students of the great master. * Gabriel Danzig, Professor in the Department of Classical Studies, Bar Ilan University, Israel *This new edition is rich, comprehensive, and up-to-date. An important resource on the philosopher Socrates for both students and scholars. * Donald Morrison, Professor of Philosophy, Rice University, USA *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Preface List of Abbreviations 1. Socrates in Ancient Comedy (Alessandro Stavru, Bocconi University, Italy) 2. Xenophon’s Socrates on Teaching and Learning Russell Jones (University of Oklahoma, USA) and Ravi Sharma (Clark University, USA) 3. Socratic Methods, Eric Brown (Washington University in St. Louis, USA) 4. Socrates and the Forms, William J. Prior (University of Santa Clara, USA) 5. Socratic Ignorance, Keith McPartland (Williams College, USA) 6. The Priority of Definition, Hugh Benson (University of Oklahoma, USA) 7. Socratic Virtue Intellectualism, Justin Clark (Hamilton College, USA) 8. Socratic Eudaimonism, Paul Woodruff (University of Texas-Austin, USA) 9. Socratic Motivational Intellectualism, Freya Möbus (Loyola University of Chicago, USA) 10. Socrates on Love, Suzanne Obdrzalek (Claremont McKenna College, USA) 11. Socrates on Emotions, Irina Deretic (University of Belgrade, Serbia) 12. Socrates’ Political Philosophy, Curtis Johnson (Lewis & Clark College, USA) 13. Socratic Theology and Piety, Mark McPherran (Simon Frasier University, Canada) 14. Socrates on Death and the Afterlife, Emily Austin (Wake Forest University, USA) 15. The Trial of Socrates, Nicholas D. Smith (Lewis and Clark College, USA) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, there has been a remarkable resurgence of interest in classical conceptions of what it means for human beings to lead a good life. Although the primary focus of the return to classical thought has been Aristotle's account of virtue, the ethics of Aquinas has also received much attention.Trade Review"For anyone wishing to understand the Thomistic perpective on human action, this book is well worth a careful reading." -Nova and Vetera

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Book SynopsisJoseph O. Chapa, with unique credentials as Air Force officer, Predator pilot, and doctorate in moral philosophy, serves as our guide to understanding this future, able to engage in both the language of military operations and the language of moral philosophy.Through gripping accounts of remote pilots making life-and-death decisions and analysis of high-profile cases such as the killing of Iranian high government official General Qasem Soleimani, Chapa examines remote warfare within the context of the just war tradition, virtue, moral psychology, and moral responsibility. He develops the principles we should use to evaluate its morality, especially as pilots apply human judgment in morally complex combat situations. Moving on to the bigger picture, he examines how the morality of human decisions in remote war is situated within the broader moral context of US foreign policy and the future of warfare.

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Book SynopsisThe concept and values of wilderness, along with the practice of wilderness preservation, have been under attack for the past several decades. In Rethinking Wilderness, Mark Woods responds to seven prominent anti-wilderness arguments. Woods offers a rethinking of the received concept of wilderness, developing a positive account of wilderness as a significant location for the other-than-human value-adding properties of naturalness, wildness, and freedom. Interdisciplinary in approach, the book combines environmental philosophy, environmental history, environmental social sciences, the science of ecology, and the science of conservation biology.Trade Review“Rethinking Wilderness articulates a thoughtful, rigorous, and reformist case for wilderness. It could not be more timely. Everyone who cares about defending the natural world should read this book.” — Dale Jamieson, New York University“In Rethinking Wilderness Mark Woods carefully works through the most prominent recent criticisms of the idea of wilderness. Woods’ analysis is careful and his discussions are wide-ranging, touching on issues in environmental history, social theory, ecology, and conservation biology. This is an important piece of scholarship, essential reading for critics and defenders of wilderness alike.” — Katie McShane, Colorado State University“Rethinking Wilderness could as well be titled Rethinking Rethinking Wilderness. Mark Woods analyzes with great clarity those who have critiqued the original wilderness idea in anti-wilderness directions. Hence my doublet title, to emphasize doubly how this is a permanent contribution to thinking about wilderness.” — Holmes Rolston III, author of A New Environmental Ethics: The Next Millennium for Life on Earth“… a valuable resource for understanding and accessing a rich and diverse array of resources on wilderness from across multiple disciplines. The book contributes importantly to debates over wilderness in the thoughtfulness and nuance it offers: this is an especially valuable intervention, given that the ‘great wilderness debates’ at times have tended to foster all-or-nothing thinking with respect to wilderness.” — Marion Hourdequin, Environmental ValuesTable of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 – Wilderness: Conceptual and Historical Background Chapter 2 – Naturalized Human Distinctiveness: The Naturalist Argument Chapter 3 – An Other-than-Human World: The Social Constructivist Argument Chapter 4 – Trammeling Wilderness: The No-Wilderness Argument Chapter 5 – Trammeling People I: The Imperial Argument Chapter 6 – Upsetting the Balance of Nature: The Ecological Argument Chapter 7 – Trammeling People II: The Environmental Justice Argument Chapter 8 – Wilderness Preservation and the Other-than-Human World: The Management Argument Chapter 9 – Natural, Wild, and Free: Toward a Wilderness Ethic

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction to this Edition by Fr. Alfred Wierzbicki Author's Introduction Part I. Morality as the Field Proper to Ethics 1. The Problem of the Experience of Morality 2. Experience and understanding 3. From a Pre-scientific to a Philosophical Understanding 4. Understanding and Interpretation 5. The Debate about the Interpretation of Morality 6. The Interpretation of Morality as the Uncovering of its Aspects Part II. The Normativity of Ethics & the Responsibility of the Person 1. The Understanding of Morality and the Questions of Ethics 2. The World of Norms—Their Analogical Character 3. An Attempt at a Closer Determination of Moral Norms 4. Utilitarianism: Is it only a debate about the foundations of the norms of morality? 5. Utilitarianism & Teleology 6. Norms as Truths about Goodness 7. Norms and Exemplarism 8. Ethics—A Normative Science or a Practical One? Part III. The Natural Law & Personalist Norms 1. The Full Profile of Ethics 2. The Limits of a Practical Science 3. The Limits of a Normative Science

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Tim Rogan’s book, The Moral Economists: R. H. Tawney, Karl Polanyi, E. P. Thompson, and the Critique of Capitalism (2017), ably reconstructs the first extensive crisis of liberalism."---Pankaj Mishra, New Yorker"The Moral Economists is part historiographical exegesis, part subtle polemic about the limitations of contemporary critiques of capitalism. . . . Rogan looks to history for help in understanding capitalism, its works and its empty promises."---Katrina Navickas, London Review of Books"A timely, vivid and attractive book, vindicating on every page Rogan’s choice of three musketeers, handing on their flame to their noble heirs."---Fred Inglis, Times Higher Education"Rogan’s captivating work of intellectual history demonstrates that utilitarianism shaped much of the Left, as well as the Right’s thinking on social questions."---Patrick Diamond, Times Literary Supplement"Rogan’s reintroduction of Tawney, Polanyi, and Thompson to modern readers is a valuable endeavor."---Joseph Coletti, Journal of Markets & Morality"Rogan brings the authors and their perspectives closer to the reader not only by presenting their opus and their thoughts but also by contextualizing them . . . thoroughly and deeply researched."---Christian Leitner, Zeitschrift fuer Soziologie"Tim Rogan’s book is a fine example of intellectual history and will appeal to historically inclined humanists and social scientists at large, as well as to political activists, career politicians, and interested readers of all stripes, who, for one reason or another, may wish to ruminate on twentieth-century British experiences in civilising capitalism."---Giorgio Baruchello, European Legacy

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Book SynopsisBased on a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) designed for both military personnel and non-specialists across the globe, Key Concepts in Military Ethics is structured as a series of ‘mini-chapters’ that cover a huge range of topics and issues: moral dilemmas, military and civilian interactions, freedom of the press, peacekeeping, terrorism and humanitarian intervention.Written by a team of academic experts, many with military experience, the book contains scenarios and case studies, including the Gulf War, the Falklands War, ‘Ground Zero’ in New York City and more conventional theatres of war through history, as well as cyber-terrorism, the role of military contractors and unmanned weapons systems.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In a helpful running commentary that accompanies his vigorous translation, [James] Romm glosses Seneca to mean that the best gifts are given anonymously and received gratefully. . . . For the stoically inclined, a fine vade mecum come donation time." * Kirkus Reviews *"Engaging. . . . [Seneca] has seldom seemed wiser."---Steven Donoghue, Open Letters"[Romm] is very helpful in his introduction . . . [and his] short summations show a clear mastery of his material."---Ray Morris, Classics for All"Thoughtful advice. . . . How to Give is as much about receiving as it is about giving."---John J. Miller, National Review"This new translation of Seneca the Younger's De Beneficiis has insights for both givers and receivers, confirming that the questions surrounding philanthropy—and how to receive as well as to give graciously—are of enduring importance."---Austin Detwiler, Philanthropy Daily

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Book SynopsisImmanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals is widely regarded as one of the most influential works in the history of moral philosophy. Indeed, any student of ethics will soon encounter a translation of the book, although trying to read it is likely to cause bewilderment. What, one may ask, is Kant trying to say? This book provides the answers. Here, seven highly regarded teachers and scholars of Kant's ethics offer remarkably clear explanations of the most important concepts in the Groundwork: the good will, happiness, duty, hypothetical and categorical imperatives, the Formula of Universal Law, the Formula of Humanity, and freedom.Contents: Preface The Good Will, Nataliya Palatnik Happiness, Anne Margaret Baxley Duty, Laura Papish Imperatives, Tamar Schapiro The Formula of Universal Law, Kyla Ebels-Duggan The Formula of Humanity, Japa Pallikkathayil Freedom, Lucy Allais About the Contributors Index Trade Review“This is the rare guide to Kant’s Groundwork suitable even for students new to philosophy. The clear, concise chapters focus on only the most essential concepts from all three sections of the Groundwork. The authors expertly illuminate Kant’s ethical thought and facilitate engagement with the text.” —Lara Denis, Agnes Scott College“A collection of beautifully clear and concise essays on Kant’s most famous ethical work, each written by an outstanding scholar. The crucial ideas of the Groundwork are expertly explained in ways that are both philosophically rich and reader friendly. This volume is an invaluable companion for any student or teacher of Kantian ethics.” —Karen Stohr, Georgetown University“A wonderfully clear and concise philosophical introduction to Kant’s seminal ethical treatise.” —Jens Timmermann, University of St AndrewsTable of ContentsPreface; The Good Will, Nataliya Palatnik; Happiness, Anne Margaret Baxley ;Duty, Laura Papish; Imperatives, Tamar Schapiro; The Formula of Universal Law, Kyla Ebels-Duggan; The Formula of Humanity, Japa Pallikkathayil; Freedom, Lucy Allais; About the Contributors; Index.

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Book SynopsisPresuming readers start with no background in philosophy, this enhanced introduction to bioethics first provides balanced, philosophically based coverage of moral reasoning, moral theories, and the law. It then leads the newly equipped reader to explore a range of important ethical issues in health care and biomedical research.Engaging Bioethics, Second Edition is designed for undergraduates throughout the humanities and social sciences as well as for healthcare professionals-in-training, including students in medical school, pre-medicine, nursing, public health, and those studying to assist physicians in various capacities. Along with coverage of standard bioethical issuessuch as vaccination, access to health care, new reproductive technologies, genetics, research on human and animal subjects, abortion, medical confidentiality, and disclosureit now addresses ethical aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Supreme Court's Dobbs v Jackson decision, use of CRISPRTrade Review"Seay and Nuccetelli have done an admirable job at distilling and making accessible a large body of medical information, complex case law, and philosophical ethics. Their text makes the project of developing competence and understanding in bioethics a lot less daunting, without simplifying the philosophical and scientific issues. The book is organized so that instructors can easily design a course around a subset of the topics covered, and its teaching and learning resources are outstanding. This is the best bioethics textbook I am aware of, for students and teachers alike."Brandon Cooke, Professor & Chair (Philosophy), Minnesota State University, Mankato"This is a concise introduction to bioethics that covers a lot of ground. The chapters are sufficiently self-contained so that the text can be adapted to different course designs, and the boxes and figures throughout are helpful learning aids. Important cases are discussed but don’t dominate the discussion, so the emphasis remains on the philosophical arguments and issues."William A. Bauer, North Carolina State University"Seay and Nuccetelli offer a refreshing and bold approach to bioethics that confronts readers directly, requiring them to intimately wrestle with the most pressing issues through numerous case studies and a nuanced analysis of the core concepts and principles. The authors strike a delicate balance between accessibility and depth, with the results being a text that is eminently readable. This is not easy material, but the authors have created a text open to readers with little or no philosophical background without sacrificing the complexity found in these important discussions. They also offer an expansive and up-to-date sourcebook to find primary sources online in the companion website."Scott O’Leary, University of Saint MaryTable of Contents1. From Vaccination Ethics to Bioethics and Ethics 2. The Tools of Ethical Inquiry 3. Philosophical Accounts of Morality 4. Principle-Oriented and Case-Oriented Bioethics 5. Managing Personal Medical Information 6. Consent with Competence and Without 7. Death and Dying 8. When Life Supports Are Futile or Refused 9. Medically Assisted Death 10. End-of-Life Measures for Severely Compromised Newborns 11. Morality and the Law in the Typical Case of Abortion 12. Morality and the Law in Hard Cases of Abortion 13. New Reproductive Technologies 14. The Genetic Revolution 15. Biomedical Research on Animals 16. Biomedical Research on Humans 17. Justice in Health Care

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Book SynopsisDuring the last century humanity acquired the ability to destroy itself. The direct approach to destruction can be seen in such facts as the ever-present threat of nuclear war, but we have also developed the capacity to do indirect harm by altering conditions necessary for survival, including the looming cloud of climate change. How can we look forward and work past the dire position we now find ourselves in to achieve a sustainable future? This volume presents a new way of thinking about the future as it examines catastrophe and the human response. It examines different kinds of catastrophes that range from natural (e.g., earthquakes) to industrial (e.g., Chernobyl) and concludes that the traditional distinctions between them are only becoming blurrier by the day. This book aims to build a general theory of catastrophes—a new form of apocalyptic thinking that is grounded in science and philosophy. An ethics for the sake of the future is what is required, which in turn necessitates a new metaphysics of temporality. If a way out of the imminent danger in which we find ourselves is to be found, we must first look to radically alter our ethics.

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