Moral Competence: An Integrated Approach to the Study of Ethics

Moral Competence takes an integrated approach to the study of ethics. It shows how various concepts, issues, approaches, and theories play an important part in understanding the whole of moral life. Text is designed to show how moral emotions, sentiments, autonomy, strength of will, virtues, moral reasoning, and ethical principles contribute to a comprehensive understanding of moral life.

Moral Competence is a readable, relevant, and uniquely designed text that integrates the most important aspects of ethical conduct into a complete picture of moral life. Drawing on the various traditions in the study of ethics, the text examines the nature of moral sentiment, free will, responsibility, and autonomy. It includes a discussion of a number of the important virtues, an account of wisdom and moral decision making, and an analysis of classical and contemporary moral principles. Case studies, news stories, queries, fiction and film synopses, and dozens of contemporary issues are used to illustrate concepts and theory, and engage the student in reflection on a number of themes. Some of the significant features of the second edition of Moral Competence are:

• the use of a variety of ethical traditions, approaches and theories.
• the inclusion of both traditional and current issues and topics.
• dozens of case studies on a wide range of ethical issues.
• the use of news stories and real-life examples to illustrate ethical concepts and problems.
• story and film summaries that can be used for discussion.
• over 40 information boxes providing interesting, relevant, humorous, and sometimes shocking material for reflection.
• biography boxes on the lives of principal philosophers and summaries of their thought.
• a number of illustrations of key concepts and ideas.
• access to PowerPoint presentations, updates, practice quizzes, study guides, and other Web-based materials.
• an appendix on writing ethics papers, with online references, and a comprehensive list of ethics journals and newsletters.
• a glossary of basic terms.