A Concise Introduction to Ethics

by Russ Shafer-Landau

A Concise Introduction to Ethics is an abbreviated and simplified version of Russ Shafer-Landau's best-selling textbook/primer on ethical theory for the introduction to ethics and introduction to contemporary moral issues courses, The Fundamentals of Ethics . For many philosophy departments
these ethics courses are their largest enrollment offerings, often fulfilling a university general education requirement. Shafer-Landau's The Fundamentals of Ethics has been the #1 selling ethics textbook for years primarily because it provides students with the clearest and most accessible
explanations of ethical theories available. It is relatively brief, and yet quite comprehensive, covering more theories than the competing texts do but also presenting them in the most understandable way--the author has a direct conversation with the students. This book will be about 1/3 shorter
than The Fundamentals of Ethics , while still maintaining its content advantage over competing books by including several areas of theory that others omit, including the good life (value theory), natural law, and prima facie duties.

A Concise Introduction to Ethics will be based on the first part of Shafer-Landau's new OUP hybrid textbook/reader Living Ethics . The end of each chapter features several cases and discussion questions so students get opportunities to apply ethical theories to real-world moral issues and problems.
Like its parent book, this volume can be paired with Shafer-Landau's reader The Ethical Life , which includes key reading selections from ethical theory and essays on contemporary moral problems. It can also accompany any reader on ethics or contemporary moral issues.

Genres: Philosophy

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2019

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief overview- and introduction to a variety of moral theories. Although the book has a clear structure and seems to deal with most of the important theories, I often found it to be lacking essential information on the actual theory instead of which the author seems to feel the need to express his own opinion for pages on end. Although he seems to phrase it as different arguments for- and against, there is not a page where he does not express his own vision - on the argument ór on the theory. Aside from lacking actual 'information' on the theories, this made the book lack a more modern and actual critical note of all theories discussed. I personally would not recommend this book as an actual introductions to ethics; it is well written but reads more like an essay and misses essential information and topicality.

[Persy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for my Intro to Ethics course in college... and it was honestly a perfect introduction. This book broke down key concepts and discussed ethical implications all while being engaging for the reader.

Pretty happy with it!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful as the core text for my ethics class. Used in fall 2022 and using again in spring 2023

[Jack Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent intro to ethical frameworks. Some of the authors efforts to "debunk" ethical frameworks failed to be convincing.