Ethics as Language: The Role of Ethics in Persuasion

by Frank Shaw

This book provides a practical introduction to ethics by explaining the role of ethics in personal decisions and persuasion. A systematic understanding of ethical systems will improve the quality of the decisions we make and dramatically increase our effectiveness when we need to persuade others. People make all sorts of decisions by thinking in ways that resemble the ethical systems of the great normative philosophers. A working understanding of these systems is empowering because it increases the ability to impact the decision-making processes of others in significant ways. Discussions regarding what people ought to do and shouldn’t do reveal their underlying ethical assumptions of the participants. They signal their thought processes by using recognizable language patterns. In fact, all of us unconsciously use a variety of these patterns, or languages, every day! Being conscious of when ethical language is being used and the most effective ways to respond improves communication and persuasion. Awareness of our own ethics and those of others enriches relationships and enhances the quality of decisions.

238 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2016