The Moral Life: An Introductory Reader in Ethics and Literature

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195128443 ISBN 13: 9780195128444

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1999

Literature often deals with moral issues. It focuses on human dilemmas and awakens our imagination to new possibilities. It compels us to rethink and revise our everyday assumptions, enabling us to consider ethical questions in creative ways.
The Moral Life: An Introductory Reader in Ethics and Literature brings together an extensive and varied collection of 87 classical and contemporary readings on ethical theory and practice. The book is divided into four sections covering the nature of morality, moral theories, moral issues, and applied ethics. Integrating literature with philosophy in an innovative way, editor Louis Pojman uses literary works to enliven and make concrete the ethical theory or applied issues addressed in each chapter. Literary works by Hugo, Hawthorne, Melville, Tolstoy, Ibsen, Huxley, Orwell, Camus, LeGuin, Styron, and many others lead students into philosophical concepts and issues such as relativism, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, the meaning of life, freedom, sex, love and marriage, and environmental ethics. Once introduced, these topics are developed further through readings by philosophers including Aristotle, Sartre, Bernard Williams, Jane English, and Thomas E. Hill, Jr. This unique anthology emphasizes the personal dimension of ethics, which is often ignored or minimized in ethics texts.
Featuring insightful part and chapter introductions as well as biographical sketches, abstracts, and study questions for each reading selection, The Moral Life is ideal for introductory ethics courses. It also provides an engaging gateway into personal and social ethics for the general reader.

About the Author:

Louis P. Pojman, Professor, Department of English, United States Military Academy.

Review:

"Dynamic, interdisciplinary textbook that both inspires students to study ethics and draws the relevance of studying ethics to everyday life to the forefront. Wonderful text to teach from."--Timothy Ostroot, Minnesota School of Business

"Exceptionally wide-ranging selection of texts from both philosophy and literature. Should prove a valuable text for quite a number of courses, especially cross-disciplinary offerings."--Dan O'Bryan, Sierra Nevada College

"Excellent collection!"--Leslie Sutter, International College

"Ambitious and highly accessible selection."--Naomi Zack, State University of New York at Albany

"A rich, well balanced book."--Frank Fortkamp, Villa Julie College

"A good blend of philosophy and literature. Treats different aspects of ethics, including applied ethics. Attractive format."--Daniel Maloney, University of Mary

"An original use of literary sources to illumine and pose traditional philosophical issues in ethics. The chpater on viture handsomely illustrates basic virtues and vices. It's more than useful--it's actually a joy to read!"--Rev. John H. COnley, Fordham University

"I have read the first of the 15 chapters. I am impressed with the integration of literature and philosophy. This is an excellent method of introducing ethics." --G. Terry Minton, CCBC-Dundalk Campus

"Excellent selections--excellent balance of philosophilcal and literary materials--selections are of suitable length--the title is a turn-off." --Robert C. Bennett, Richland College

"An original use of literary sources to illumine and pose traditional philosophical issues in ethics. The chapter on virtue handsomely illustrates basic virtues and vices. It's more than useful--it's actually a joy to read!"--Rev. John H. Conley, Fordham University