Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195178408 ISBN 13: 9780195178401

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2005

Synopsis

The most comprehensive collection of its kind, Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Third Edition, is organized into three parts, providing instructors with flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. The first part, 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), culminating with leading nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinkers (Nietzsche, James, Dewey, Camus, and Sartre). The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the past century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers (Foot, Brandt, Williams, Wolf, and Nagel). Landmark selections (Moore, Prichard, Ross, Ayer, Stevenson, Hare, Baier, Anscombe, Gauthier, and Harman) reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of justice (Rawls) and rights (Feinberg) are explored, as well as recent views on the importance of virtue ethics (Rachels) and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns (Held). In the third part, Contemporary Moral Problems, the readings present the current debates over abortion, euthanasia, famine relief, animal rights, the death penalty, and whether numbers should play a role in making moral decisions.
The third edition expands Part II, Modern Ethical Theory, adding essays by Onora O'Neill, Ruth Barcan Marcus, Allan Gibbard, Nicholas L. Sturgeon, and Martha Nussbaum. Part III, Contemporary Moral Problems, features new essays on abortion by Mary Anne Warren, Don Marquis, and Rosalind Hursthouse; an essay on the death penalty by Stephen Nathanson; and a debate between John M. Taurek and Derek Parfit on when and why one should save from harm a greater rather than a lesser number of people. The book concludes with an essay by Judith Jarvis Thomson on the trolley problem. Wherever possible, each reading is printed in its entirety.

About this title

About the Author

Steven M. Cahn is at City University of New York. Peter Markie is at 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

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0195178408
• ISBN 13: 9780195178401
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 896
• Editor: Cahn Steven M., Markie Peter