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 Updates to the Third

246 pages, Paperback

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.