Reason and Human Ethics

by Alan E. Johnson

Reason and Human Ethics argues that a secular, biological, teleological basis of human ethics exists and that reasoning and critical thinking about both ends and means are essential to human ethics. It examines how these principles apply in the contexts of individual ethics, social ethics, citizen ethics, media ethics, and political ethics.

This is the second book of the author’s philosophical trilogy on free will, ethics, and political philosophy. The first in this series, Free Will and Human Life, was published in 2021. The third, titled Reason and Human Government, was published in 2026. Although each of these books can be read separately, they may also be considered as the three parts of an overall work under the title of Philosophy and Human Life.

Synopsis

Chapter 1 (“What Is the Basis of Human Ethics?”) discusses the various theories of the basis of ethics over the millennia. It concludes that ethics is properly founded on a secular, biological, teleological understanding of human nature.

Chapter 2 (“Human Reason”) begins with a discussion of how reason relates to secular teleology. It argues that reason is—contrary to much of modern philosophy and science—properly directed to human ends as well as means. It explains the differences between abstract and practical reasoning and between formal and informal logic. Unlike mathematics and physics, ethics involves practical reasoning and informal, nonsymbolic logic. The chapter concludes with an extended discussion of common fallacies and the importance of critical thinking.

Chapter 3 (“Individual Ethics”) addresses the appropriate ethical orientation toward ourselves as individuals. It explains why we should want to be rational, how human reason is related to cerebral maturation, the life of reason, and general departures from a rational life. It concludes with a discussion of the ethical mean of Confucius and Aristotle and how that mean properly applies to such moral virtues as courage and moderation.

Chapter 4 (“Social Ethics”) considers how individuals should think and act regarding other human and nonhuman beings. This chapter discusses when we should or should not express ethical judgments about others, the merits and limitations of the Golden Rule, prejudice and discrimination, veracity, friendship, romantic relationships, family, work, business ethics, environmental ethics, the ethical treatment of nonhuman animals, and issues regarding force and fraud.

Chapter 5 (“Citizen and Media Ethics”) discusses, among other things, the long-forgotten concept of public virtue, the ethical imperative of reason in public discourse and conduct, ideologies of the far Right and far Left, and media ethics.

Chapter 6 (“Political Ethics”) is about the ethics of political leadership. The first major section is on authoritarian, tyrannical, and totalitarian political leaders, with a discussion of Plato’s account of oligarchical and tyrannical rulers in his Republic and Seventh Letter and the examples of Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, and Vladimir Putin. The second section addresses irrational democratic-republican political leadership, with examples being the self-acknowledged “gut instinct” leadership styles of U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump and the latter’s advanced flirtation with authoritarian ideology and practice. The concluding section is about rational democratic-republican political leadership: what it would be and a possible example in President John F. Kennedy’s leadership during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

An epilogue sums it all up, and the appendix discusses the theological and violent conflicts among the claims to revelation.

Genres: Environment

261 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2022

About the author

Alan E. Johnson, an independent philosopher, historian, political scientist, and legal scholar, is the author of Free Will and Human Life, Reason and Human Ethics, Reason and Human Government, The First American Founder: Roger Williams and Freedom of Conscience, The Electoral College: Failures of Original Intent and Proposed Constitutional and Statutory Changes for Direct Popular Vote, 2nd ed., and other publications in the fields of ethical and political philosophy, history, and constitutional law. He holds an A.B. (Political Science) and A.M. (Humanities) from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law. He retired in 2012 from a long career as an attorney in which he focused mainly, though not exclusively, on constitutional and public law litigation. For further information, see his post here.

Reviews

[Brad Lyerla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan E. Johnson’s REASON AND HUMAN LIFE is a surprise. He synthesizes the philosophies of Aristotle and Confucius with current day evolutionary and brain science to articulate a secular and teleological basis of human ethics. I am in comfortable agreement with Johnson on virtually everything that he has to say on the subject.

I do not recall ever having heard of secular teleological reasoning before reading REASON AND HUMAN ETHICS. And yet, here I am wondering if it is exactly what I have been struggling towards the last decade or so of my amateurish dalliance with political and ethical philosophy. I did not see that coming when I finally picked up and began reading REASON AND HUMAN ETHICS, after having bought a copy when it was first published in June 2022. As someone once said, “better late than never.”

Johnson himself is an interesting subject. Before beginning his career as a full-time independent philosopher late in life, he was a practicing lawyer for decades focusing on constitutional and government law. As an occasional participant in the GR reading group created and moderated by Johnson, I have come to admire his patient, sensible and wise approach to the pursuit of philosophy. I liked his earlier book, FREE WILL AND HUMAN LIFE tremendously and gave it 5 stars. Now, I urge anyone with an interest in ethics and political philosophy to get a copy of REASON AND HUMAN ETHICS and read it immediately. It is an eye-opener.

[Miguel Cisneros Saucedo · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Reason and Human Ethics" by Alan Johnson is an utterly disappointing read that fails to deliver on its promises. From start to finish, the book is plagued by convoluted explanations, unclear arguments, and an overall lack of coherence by an arrogant author.

Johnson's writing style is needlessly complex, making it incredibly challenging for readers to grasp the fundamental concepts he attempts to convey. The book is filled with filler and unclear language, creating an unnecessary barrier for those without an advanced background in the author's past works.

Furthermore, the author seems more interested in showcasing his intellectual prowess than in genuinely helping readers understand the subject matter. The text lacks practical examples or real-world applications, leaving readers frustrated and disconnected from the supposedly profound insights promised by the title. Moreover, Johnson is embedded within a highly nationalistic mindset since most of his examples are from American culture and politics, which alienates anyone outside of it.

Also, the organization of the content is chaotic, with ideas scattered throughout the book without a clear thread tying them together. This lack of structure makes it difficult to follow the author's train of thought and leaves readers questioning the relevance of certain sections. He jumps from one point to another without any connection, which tells a whole lot about Johnson's lack of coherence.

In addition, the book lacks engagement with alternative viewpoints, presenting a biased, one-sided perspective that extinguishes intellectual exploration. Johnson's failure to address counterarguments or provide a balanced discussion undermines the credibility of the work and leaves readers feeling disappointed. Intellectual giants such as Hume and Kant are presented as mere cartoons in order to be misunderstood by Johnson.

In conclusion, "Reason and Human Ethics" is a useless and disjointed piece of writing that does a disservice to readers seeking a clear understanding of the subject. Its lack of accessibility, practicality, and balanced discussion make it a regrettable choice for anyone hoping to gain meaningful insights into human ethics through reason. Save your time and seek out more reader-friendly and well-organized resources on the topic. Also, I recommend avoiding any contact with the author and his Goodreads group "Political Philosophy and Ethics", since it's filled with self-promotion and self-centered authoritarian behavior.

[Alan Johnson]

I am the author of this book and accordingly am not rating it. Reason and Human Ethics is the second book of my philosophical trilogy on free will, ethics, and political philosophy. The first in this series, Free Will and Human Life, was published in 2021. The third, titled Reason and Human Government, was published in 2026. Although each of these books can be read separately, they may also be considered as the three parts of an overall work under the title of Philosophy and Human Life.

Reason and Human Ethics is available in both paperback and Kindle ebook editions. An exact replica of the print-on-demand paperback (updated through February 24, 2024) is also freely accessible in PDF at https://www.academia.edu/107899091/Re.... I encourage readers to download the PDF and compare it to any positive or negative reviews they may find on this or other websites.

This book is written primarily for what I call the advanced general reader. Those who already believe they have a sufficient ethical orientation from religion or from cultural indoctrination need not read it—unless, of course, they still have open minds. Those trained in conventional academic approaches to ethics may find the book difficult to grasp, as it does not neatly fit into preconceived modern academic pigeonholes. But my approach is, in fact, generally consistent with some–not all—contemporary scholarship, as evidenced by my citation of a few great scholars of the last many decades.

Trigger warning: advocates of theocracy or other forms of authoritarianism will not like this book.

This work argues, contrary to much of modern philosophy and contemporary popular belief, that human reasoning about both ends and means is essential for human ethics and is, in fact, a moral imperative. This thesis is developed in chapters 1 (“What Is the Basis of Human Ethics?”) and 2 (“Human Reason”) and is applied, with numerous examples, in chapters 3 (“Individual Ethics”), 4 (“Social Ethics”), 5 (“Citizen and Media Ethics”), and 6 (“Political Ethics”). I thought about, researched, and planned this book for more than six decades. Such theoretical knowledge plus my decades of practical life experience informed its careful design.

Alan E. Johnson
Independent Philosopher, Historian, Political Scientist, and Legal Scholar
(edited February 22, 2026)

[Alan Johnson]

I am the author of this book and accordingly am not rating it. Reason and Human Ethics is the second book of my philosophical trilogy on free will, ethics, and political philosophy. The first in this series, Free Will and Human Life, was published in 2021. The third, titled Reason and Human Government, was published in 2026. Although each of these books can be read separately, they may also be considered as the three parts of an overall work under the title of Philosophy and Human Life.

Reason and Human Ethics is available in both paperback and Kindle ebook editions. An exact replica of the print-on-demand paperback (with errata corrected as of May 22, 2024) is also freely accessible in PDF at https://www.academia.edu/107899091/Re.... I encourage readers to download the PDF and compare it to any positive or negative reviews they may find on this or other websites.

This book is written primarily for what I call the advanced general reader. Those who already believe they have a sufficient ethical orientation from religion or from cultural indoctrination need not read it—unless, of course, they still have open minds. Those trained in conventional academic approaches to ethics may find the book difficult to grasp, as it does not neatly fit into preconceived modern academic pigeonholes. But my approach is, in fact, generally consistent with some–not all—contemporary scholarship, as evidenced by my citation of a few great scholars of the last many decades.

Trigger warning: advocates of theocracy or other forms of authoritarianism will not like this book.

This work argues, contrary to much of modern philosophy and contemporary popular belief, that human reasoning about both ends and means is essential for human ethics and is, in fact, a moral imperative. This thesis is developed in chapters 1 (“What Is the Basis of Human Ethics?”) and 2 (“Human Reason”) and is applied, with numerous examples, in chapters 3 (“Individual Ethics”), 4 (“Social Ethics”), 5 (“Citizen and Media Ethics”), and 6 (“Political Ethics”). I thought about, researched, and planned this book for more than six decades. Such theoretical knowledge plus my decades of practical life experience informed its careful design.

Errata regarding the Kindle and paperback editions are posted at https://www.academia.edu/88227217/Err.... These errata have been corrected in paperbacks printed after May 22, 2024 (with the exception of one minor spacing error that otherwise would have affected the paperback pagination).

Alan E. Johnson
Independent Philosopher, Historian, Political Scientist, and Legal Scholar

[Qi Yong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dense book. It begins by explaining reason, then examines the relationship between reason and personal ethics, and argues that human behavior should be guided by reason, thereby achieving the properly balanced state of the Doctrine of the Mean. To support this argument, the author also introduces the thought of Confucius and points out the similarities between classical Eastern and Western philosophy—they both pursue reason and the Doctrine of the Mean.
The book also points out that irrational regimes are fond of stirring up mass agitation, a phenomenon that usually appears in totalitarian states. We all know that such regimes have later brought disasters to the regions they ruled. I feel this deeply, because Mao Zedong once said, “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.”However, the real meaning of this statement was: “To mobilize the masses—only by mobilizing the masses can society be stirred up to create history for myself.” Turning the public into a chaotic crowd makes them easier to control and to drive into a sweeping tide. But what was the final result? In the pursuit of supreme power, reason was lost. Wave after wave of mass movements followed, and in the end came hunger, internal turmoil, poverty, and the waste of an entire generation’s youth…
“The touchstone for individual ethics is what facilitates our individual mental and physical well-being, provided we do not violate our ethical duties to others. ”
The immorality of political ethics is, in fact, built upon the irrationality of political figures. And the irrationality of political figures, in turn, rests upon the irrationality of personal and social ethics.
Therefore, in order to expose irrational words and actions, the author also presents a large number of logical fallacies, so that people will not be deceived by cleverly crafted lies.
The appendix of the book also outlines the general characteristics of religions around the world. These do not fall within the realm of reason, yet these diverse doctrines leave a deep imprint on people’s minds. The problem, however, lies in the conflicts between the doctrines of different religions, which contributes to human irrationality and, in turn, helps perpetuate a lack of peace in the world.
This is a book with profound intent; I even read it twice. On the surface, the book seems packed with content, loosely structured, and unclear in its arguments. But after I read it patiently, revisited the table of contents, reconnected the chapters, and quickly skimmed through it a second time, I came to understand the spirit behind the book. The author explores the relationship between reason and ethics, as well as between reason and society and various forms of government. In a cautious and measured tone, he argues that reason and the pursuit of facts are key to long-term human well-being. This has already been demonstrated theoretically by many sages, and the disasters of those who defied it have repeatedly played out in practice—so why do we not follow it?

[Joonhong Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reason and Human Ethics is a serious and intellectually rigorous attempt to restore reason to the center of ethical life. Alan E. Johnson challenges some of the most dominant assumptions of modern moral thought—ethical relativism, emotivism, and the fact–value dichotomy—and argues that human ethics can and should be grounded in a secular, biological, teleological understanding of human nature.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its insistence that reason is not merely instrumental. Against the Humean tradition that reduces reason to a servant of passion, Johnson defends a richer conception of rationality—one capable of evaluating ends, not just calculating means. Drawing on Aristotle while engaging seriously with modern neuroscience and psychology, he presents ethics as an expression of human capacities rather than a set of arbitrary norms or subjective preferences.
The book is also commendable for its scope. It moves thoughtfully from individual ethics to social, media, and political ethics, treating ethical reasoning as a public responsibility rather than a purely private virtue. Johnson’s discussions of irrational leadership and authoritarian tendencies are especially timely, offering a philosophical lens through which to understand contemporary political pathologies.
Readers who are accustomed to moral frameworks grounded in sentiment or procedural rules may find Johnson’s teleological approach demanding, but that demand is precisely the book’s value. Reason and Human Ethics does not offer easy answers; instead, it invites readers to take reason seriously again—as a human achievement, a moral responsibility, and a fragile but indispensable foundation for ethical life.
This is a thoughtful, principled, and unapologetically rational work that will reward readers willing to engage deeply with fundamental ethical questions.