Description
Book SynopsisIntended for use in the introduction to ethics course, The Good Life: Options in Ethics, Fifth Edition is designed to engage today''s practical-minded student in more fundamental questions. The book ranges from ideals in living (the good) to contemporary moral problems (the right), exploring and analyzing both areas in order to stimulate deeper reflection. The first section of the book clears away the obstacles to pursuing ethical understanding - relativism, determinism, and egoism. Then traditional definitions of the good life are discussed, theories such as hedonism, self-realization, duty, evolutionism, religious ethics, and virtue ethic. The final section addresses today''s social problems including abortion, euthanasia, animal welfare, capital punishment, and sexual morality.New to the Fifth Edition:Chapter 6, Following Nature, has been eliminated, and its contents have been integrated into appropriate chaptersNew section entitled Contemporary Moral Issues includes new chapters on
Trade Review“Much more than a standard text on normative theories, this book lends itself to a thorough introductory examination of the field of ethics. . . . In particular, the evaluation discussions are excellent, as they draw attention to problems in the theories and arguments in a way that aids in teaching students to craft arguments themselves. Too many students think it is sufficient to disagree. The evaluation sections help focus how to critically examine a theory.” -- Stevens F. Wandmacher, University of Michigan-Flint
“The writing style of the text is, I think, appropriate for undergraduates as well as most graduate students. The style is clear, crisp, and avoids unnecessary and misleading verbiage. . . . [A] logically organized sequence of ‘obstructions’ to ethical theory by presenting the notions of egoism, determinism, and relativism early in the text.” -- Joseph F. Marino, Hofstra University
Table of ContentsTable of Contents Preface About the Author Introduction The Nature of Ethics The Standard of Reasonableness 1. Putting Ethics in Its Place The Role of Ethics within Philosophy Relationships to Other Branches Ethics and Science The Naturalistic Fallacy Ethics and Religion Plato’s Euthyphro Ethics and Psychology Psychological Egoism Review Questions 2. Free Will and Determinism Do We Have Free Choice? Fatalism and Predestination Social Scientific Determinism The Compelling Factors The Libertarian Reply Arguments for Free Will Hard and Soft Determinism The Individual in the Causal Chain Review Questions 3. The Challenge of Relativism Are Values Relative to Our Society? Ethics as Subjective and Cultural Sources of Relativism Social Science and Multiculturalism Objectivism The Counter Arguments Are Some Actions Intrinsically Valuable? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Review Questions II. Ideals in Living 4. Hedonism as the Good Ethical Hedonism Pursuing Pleasure or Happiness Individualistic Hedonism The Cyrenaics and Epicureans Universalistic Hedonism – Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill A Critical Assessment The Value of Happiness Review Questions 5. Self-Realization Developing Our Potentialities Becoming Fully Actualized Defining the Self in Time and Space Flaws and Weaknesses Realizing Ourselves as Human Beings Is Human Nature Good? Aristotle The Golden Mean Review Questions 6. Evolutionism The Meaning of Evolution Evolution and Religion Social Darwinism The Fittest and the Best Spencer’s Evolutionary Ethic The Breadth of Life A Critical Appraisal Evaluating Evolutionism Overall Review Questions 7. The Ethic of Duty Judging the Worth of Conduct The Right and the Good Deontology vs. Teleology Intention Behind Action The Kantian Ethic Following Principles The Categorical and Practical Imperatives Are There Universal Values? Review Questions 8. The Teachings of Religion Judaism – The Old Testament Divine Commands Christianity – The New Testament Concepts of Love and Justice Islam The Five Pillars of Faith Buddhism The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path Review Questions 9. Virtue Ethics Ancient Greece The Noble Person Medieval Purity Cardinal Virtues and Deadly Sins The Modern Perspective Character and Moral Sentiments Feminist Virtue Ethics Personal Caring Rather Than Moral Rules Review Questions 10. Existentialism The Human Condition Anxiety and Alienation Existence Precedes Essence Phenomenology The Seminal Figures Nietzsche and Kierkegaard Modern Existentialism Jean-Paul Sartre Review Questions III. Contemporary Moral Issues 11. Contraception and Abortion Artificial Contraceptives The Conflict over Abortion When Does the Fetus Become a Person? Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice Review Questions 12. Punishment and the Death Penalty Personal Responsibility Mass Incarceration Rival Theories of Punishment Arguments Surrounding Capital Punishment Review Questions 13. Sexual Ethics Does Consent Legitimize Any Private Act? Moral and Immoral Sex The Homosexuality Controversy Are Gay Sexual Relations Wrong? Review Questions 14. The Natural Environment Is Nature Good? Our Relationship to the Natural World Animal Welfare Using Animals for Food, Testing, Clothing, and Entertainment Review Questions 15. Racism and Sexism Should We Ever Generalize About People? The Remedy of Affirmative Action Discrimination Based On Sex Forms of Abuse Review Questions Afterword Glossary of Philosophic Terms Notes Index
