Basic Ethics

by Michael Boylan

Basic Ethics presents for a wide range of students and other interested readers the questions raised in thinking about ethical problems, the answers offered by moral philosophy, and the means to better integrate into both the reader's world and personal life. It takes up what the author calls a "worldview theory," which shows readers how to begin with the values and understanding of the world that they already possess in order to transition from there to new levels of increasing ethical awareness. Updates to the third edition include the more thorough integration of feminist ethics into the principal theoretical traditions, a new chapter on the ethical responsibility to be well informed of current events, expanded coverage of human rights, and additional opportunities on how to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one's own life and about public policy.

Key

Links personal values to a philosophical treatment of the major ethical theories Presents ethics in the context of social/political issues that face our nation and the world Challenges the student to react to the presented material through critical exercises that may be used as weekly assignments and can form the basis of class discussion and evaluation. Engages the student to think about underlying issues first (in the basic questions) before presenting the most popular solutions (in the basic answers) Invites the reader to make up her own mind on how to formulate an ethical theory that will help her in her own life Offers a 16-chapter format to fit into most college-semester calendars Presents an overall structure that establishes foundational problems in ethical theory in the first section of the book that are variously addressed by the different ethical theories in the second section of the book Highlights key terms to help the reader grapple with issues raised (which are reviewed and defined in a final Glossary) Includes a final chapter designed to help students comprehend the book in its entirety.


Updates to the Third

Highlights new research on human rights and their relevance to ethical thinking and contemporary moral issues Integrates feminist ethics into the principal theoretical virtue ethics, ethical intuitionism, and some versions of deontology Provides new coverage of "fake news" and the moral responsibility to be well and accurately informed of current events Expands opportunities to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one's own life and about public policy.

246 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Michael Boylan (Ph.D. Philosophy, University of Chicago: M.A. English Literature, University of Chicago) is Professor of Philosophy at Marymount University. Boylan is the author of 31 books and over 130 Scholarly and popular articles on topics ranging from Philosophy to Literature.

Boylan's latest Philosophy books are Natural Rights: A Theory (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press/September 2014) and The Origins of Ancient Greek Science (London: Routledge/ May 2015). His recent novels are, Rainbow Curve (2014), To the Promised Land (2015), Naked Reverse (2016), and Georgia: A Trilogy--Part One (2016) & Georgia: A Trilogy--Part Two (2017).

Reviews

[Austin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible. Too many logical flaws to count and poor, roundabout (and not to mention, in places, incorrect) lessons in ethical thought. I can't believe Prentice Hall published this author.

[John Cumming · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was after a book to familiarise myself with various ethical theories and summaries of the challenges they address and the weaknesses they contain. The book did a good job of giving me a starting point, although I was kind of hoping for a bit on De Beauvoir’s ethics of ambiguity as I have the sense that will provide me with more insight. I’m not looking for in depth logical reasoning of these theories (maybe I should - who’s to say?) but rather looking for potential weaknesses in my decision making and the decision making of those whom I coach. I think this book will help me do that and feel it will be one I dip in and out of over time.

[Carrie Pritchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great textbook for an ethics class, or for a great user-friendly manual for ethical matters.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor book. I was surprised that the stupid phrase "could care less," was used.

[Michelle T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess is because is a school book is not one of my favorites. It does have its interesting parts of showing the different theories of ethics...

[Sofia The Great · Rating 1 out of 5]

School book that I had to read and did not enjoy. I really didn't learn anything from it.