Ethical Choices: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy with Cases - Softcover

Burnor, Richard; Raley, Yvonne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195332954 ISBN 13: 9780195332957

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Ideal for students with little or no background in philosophy, Ethical Choices: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy with Cases provides a concise, balanced, and highly accessible introduction to ethics. Featuring an especially lucid and engaging writing style, the text surveys a wide range of ethical theories and perspectives including consequentialist ethics, deontological ethics, natural and virtue ethics, the ethics of care, and ethics and religion.

Each chapter of Ethical Choices also includes compelling case studies that are carefully matched with the theoretical material. Many of these cases address issues that students can relate directly to their own lives: the drinking age, student credit card debt, zero tolerance policies, grade inflation, and video games. Other cases discuss current topics like living wills, obesity, human trafficking, torture "lite," universal health care, and just-war theory. The cases provide students with practice in addressing real-life moral choices, as well as opportunities to evaluate the usefulness and applicability of each ethical theory. Every case study concludes with a set of Thought Questions to guide students as they reflect upon the issues raised by that case.

Ethical Choices is enhanced by several pedagogical features. These include summaries at the end of each section, lists of key terms, questions For Reflection and Discussion at the end of each chapter, Guidelines for a Case Study Analysis, and suggestions For Further Reading that include Internet sources. Starred sections indicate more advanced material that may be included at the instructor's discretion. A companion website at www.oup.com/us/burnor contains additional resources for both students and instructors: chapter outlines, flashcards of key terms, sets of Helpful Hints to further aid students in mastering the material, and an additional chapter on our Moral Obligations Towards the Future.

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Burnor is Professor of Philosophy at Felician College. Dr. Burnor has also published articles in the philosophy of science, metaphysics, and teaching philosophy.

Yvonne Raley is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Felician College, and has published articles in metaphysics and ethics.

Review:

"The discussions of the standard arguments in moral theory are without exception clear and accurate. The case studies are engaging and will without a doubt be pedagogically useful. Students will be left with a profound sense of the complexity of moral reasoning."--Robert Talisse, Vanderbilt University

"This text is clearly superior . . . in nearly every respect. The authors' commitment to looking at each side of the issue is really quite impressive and exactly what is needed to develop our students' ability to think less one-sidedly. I would be quite likely to adopt this text. I, like many, have long-waited an alternative to Rachels: The Elements of Moral Philosophy. I believe that this may be it."--Sarah Black Jones, Northern Michigan University

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0195332954
• ISBN 13: 9780195332957
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320