Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues - Softcover

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9780195104530: Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195104536 ISBN 13: 9780195104530

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1998

The most comprehensive collection of its kind, Ethics is organized into three sections, providing instructors with flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. Opening with Alasdair MacIntyre's discussion of the importance of the history of ethics, the first section, Historical Sources, moves from classical thought (Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, and Epictetus) through medieval views (Augustine and Aquinas) to modern theories (Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, Bentham, and Mill). It culminates with the religiosity of Kierkegaard, the pessimism of Schopenhauer, the nihilism of Nietzsche, the pragmatism of James and Dewey, and the existentialism of Camus and Sartre. The readings are reprinted in their entirety wherever possible.
The second section, Modern Ethical Theory, begins with James Rachels' overview of recent developments, and includes many of the most important essays of the twentieth century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers (Williams, Brandt, Feinberg, Foot, and Rachels). Landmark selections (Moore, Ross, Stevenson, Baier, Hare, Harman, and Gauthier) reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of justice (Rawls), rights (Feinberg), and saintliness (Urmson and Wolff) are explored, as well as recent views on the importance of virtue ethics (MacIntyre and Rachels), and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns (Held).
Peter Singer's discussion of the significance of applied ethics opens the third section, Contemporary Moral Problems. The readings present the current debates over abortion (Thomson, Tooley, and Sterba), euthanasia (Rachels and Foot), famine relief (Singer and Arthur), animal rights (Regan and Cohen), the death penalty (van den Haat and Nathanson), and affirmative action (Hill and Kekes).

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About the Author:

Steven M. Cahn, Professor of Philosophy, City University of New York Graduate School. Peter Markie, Professor of Philosophy, University of Missouri, Columbia.

Review:

"Terrific selection of primary and secondary works, at an affordable price!"--Lisa C. Isaacson, Columbia College

"This is the most useful ethics anthology I have ever seen!"--David Detmer, Purdue University

"Finally, an anthology put together exactly as I would do it. Excellent readings, nicely arranged, and no editorial interjections to compete with the instructor's choice of emphasis and mode of analysis."--John F. Heil, Jr., Trinity University

"Excellent source book; comprehensive and well-written."--S.L. Harrison, University of Miami

"A wonderful collection for diverse uses. The marriage of theoretical and applied readings is particularly useful in an introductory-level class where the practical import of studying ethical issues needs to be emphasized. The second section's Virtue Theory selections are uniquely
well-chosen."--Kevin S. Decker, St. Louis University

"This is an excellent anthology containing many well-chosen readings from classical and contemporary sources. It can be used in both a moral issues course as well as a more traditional Introduction to Ethics course."--Andrew Ward, San Jose State University

"An extremely comprehensive survey of philosophical approaches to ethics in the Western tradition. The collection is nicely balanced and offers a rich assortment of the standard classics alongside some of the best recent work in ethical theory, metaethics, and applied ethics. The text would be
an excellent choice for a rigorous undergraduate course in ethics."--Jordan J. Lindberg, Central Michigan University

"Very nicely done--an excellent selection of a broad range of material."--John G. Robinson, University of Massachusetts

"A terrifically comprehensive volume--leaves a wide scope for the construction of almost any introduction to ethics/philosophy course."--J.S. Taylor, Bowling Green State University

"This is one of the best introductory texts I have seen in a long time. It fits everything I have wanted to do in an ethics course."--Ted Vaggalis, Drury College

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