How Should We Live?: An Introduction to Ethics

by Louis P. Pojman

Explore central questions in moral philosophy with HOW SHOULD WE LIVE? With a focus on the question of why or how we should be moral in a time plagued by relativism, this philosophy text covers the three most seminal ethical utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue-based ethics. End of chapter discussion questions and bibliography assist you in contemplating the most central issues encountered in the text and in pursuing additional research.

Genres: Philosophy

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2004

Reviews

[Manuel Del Río Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a pretty decent introduction to the area of philosophical ethics, and I would imagine could be used as a textbook for such a university course (that is probably the reason it was created).
In its first chapters one gets some general considerations on the need for ethical behavior if human communities are to exist and flourish, using William Golding's The Lord of the Flies as a springboard, on how it pays and on the different ways one can go constructing one (starting from egoistic self-interest, more contractarian and collectivist points of view, debating objectivity versus relativism, etc...). In its main sections, the book discusses in a balanced way the three great options, their pros and cons: Deontology, Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics.

The author doesn't shirk in some cases for exposing us to his viewpoints (he espouses a moderate form of objectivism, for example).

I would definitely recommend it to anybody who wants to start trailblazing in the very important area of reflecting on how we should live.

[Donna Mazalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

challenging read