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Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues – A Comprehensive Overview
Introduction:
Have you ever wrestled with a moral dilemma? Considered the implications of a decision on others? Then you've grappled with ethics, a field as old as humanity itself yet constantly evolving to meet the challenges of our time. This comprehensive guide delves into the rich history of ethical thought, explores key theoretical frameworks, and examines pressing contemporary ethical issues. We will journey from ancient philosophical inquiries to modern bioethical debates, providing you with a solid understanding of this crucial aspect of human life and society. Prepare to explore the fascinating evolution of ethics and its profound impact on our world.
1. A Journey Through the History of Ethics:
Ethics, or moral philosophy, isn't a recent invention. Its roots stretch back to antiquity, with different civilizations developing unique moral codes and frameworks. Let's briefly examine some pivotal historical periods:
Ancient Greece: The groundwork for Western ethical thought was laid by thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates emphasized self-knowledge and virtue as the path to ethical living. Plato explored the concept of the Forms, suggesting that true goodness exists independently of human perception. Aristotle focused on virtue ethics, arguing that ethical behavior stems from cultivating virtuous character traits.
Ancient Rome: Roman ethical thought often blended Stoicism, emphasizing reason and virtue as a means to achieve inner peace, with practical considerations of civic duty and law. Thinkers like Cicero and Seneca significantly influenced the development of legal and political ethics.
Medieval Period: Christian theology dominated ethical thought during the Middle Ages. Augustine and Aquinas integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine, emphasizing the importance of divine law and the pursuit of God's will as the ultimate ethical goal. Natural law theory, suggesting inherent moral principles discoverable through reason, also emerged during this period.
Enlightenment and Beyond: The Enlightenment saw a shift toward reason and individual autonomy. Thinkers like Kant, with his categorical imperative emphasizing universal moral principles, and Mill, advocating utilitarianism (the greatest good for the greatest number), profoundly impacted ethical theory. The 19th and 20th centuries saw the rise of diverse ethical perspectives, including existentialism, feminist ethics, and virtue ethics (revived by contemporary thinkers).
2. Key Ethical Theories: A Framework for Moral Decision-Making:
Several prominent ethical theories provide frameworks for navigating moral dilemmas. Understanding these frameworks allows for a more nuanced and informed approach to ethical issues:
Deontology: This theory, championed by Immanuel Kant, emphasizes duty and moral rules. Actions are judged based on their adherence to these rules, regardless of their consequences. The categorical imperative – "act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" – is a central concept.
Utilitarianism: Associated with thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering. The morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Different forms of utilitarianism exist, considering factors like the intensity and duration of pleasure and pain.
Virtue Ethics: This approach, with roots in Aristotle's work and revived by contemporary philosophers like Alasdair MacIntyre, emphasizes character traits rather than rules or consequences. The focus is on cultivating virtuous character traits like honesty, compassion, and justice, which lead to ethical behavior.
Care Ethics: Emerging in the 20th century, care ethics emphasizes relationships and interdependence. It prioritizes empathy, compassion, and responsiveness to the needs of others, particularly those vulnerable or in need of care.
3. Contemporary Ethical Issues: Navigating the Moral Maze of the 21st Century:
The 21st century presents a complex web of ethical dilemmas. Advances in technology and globalization have brought new challenges to the forefront:
Bioethics: Issues surrounding genetic engineering, cloning, stem cell research, and end-of-life care raise profound ethical questions about the value of human life, the limits of medical intervention, and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
Environmental Ethics: Climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss pose significant environmental challenges. Ethical questions arise regarding our responsibility to protect the environment, the distribution of resources, and intergenerational justice.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics: The rapid development of AI raises concerns about bias in algorithms, job displacement, autonomous weapons systems, and the potential for AI to surpass human control. Establishing ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment is crucial.
Social Justice and Equality: Issues of racial injustice, gender inequality, economic disparity, and access to healthcare continue to plague societies worldwide. Ethical frameworks are needed to address these systemic inequalities and promote social justice.
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: The increasing reliance on technology raises ethical concerns about data privacy, surveillance, cybersecurity threats, and the potential for misuse of personal information.
4. The Role of Ethics in Society:
Ethics plays a vital role in shaping individual behavior, societal norms, and institutional practices. Ethical frameworks provide guidelines for navigating complex moral dilemmas, promoting responsible decision-making in various contexts, from personal relationships to international affairs. Furthermore, ethical considerations are increasingly integral to business practices, technological innovation, and policy-making. A strong ethical compass is crucial for fostering trust, collaboration, and social cohesion.
Book Outline: "Ethics: A Contemporary Exploration"
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance
Introduction: Defining ethics, its historical significance, and the book's scope.
Chapter 1: Historical Foundations of Ethics: Ancient Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment.
Chapter 2: Major Ethical Theories: Deontology, Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics, Care Ethics. Comparative analysis and critiques.
Chapter 3: Bioethics: Key issues, case studies, and ethical frameworks for decision-making.
Chapter 4: Environmental Ethics: Environmental challenges, ethical responsibilities, and sustainability.
Chapter 5: Technology and Ethics: AI, cybersecurity, data privacy, and ethical considerations in technological advancements.
Chapter 6: Social Justice and Equality: Addressing systemic inequalities and promoting social justice.
Conclusion: Synthesis of key themes, future directions in ethical thought, and the ongoing importance of ethical reflection.
(Detailed explanation of each chapter would follow here, expanding on the points mentioned in the outline. Due to the word count limitation, this section is omitted. Each chapter would receive a detailed treatment similar to the sections above, providing in-depth explanations, examples, and analyses.)
FAQs:
1. What is the difference between ethics and morality? While often used interchangeably, ethics refers to the philosophical study of moral principles, while morality refers to an individual's or group's set of values and beliefs about right and wrong.
2. Is there a universal ethical code? The existence of a universally accepted ethical code is debated. Different cultures and individuals hold varying moral beliefs, though some argue for underlying universal principles.
3. How can ethical theories be applied to real-world situations? Ethical theories provide frameworks for analyzing moral dilemmas, offering a structured approach to decision-making.
4. What are some common ethical pitfalls in business? Examples include conflicts of interest, bribery, corruption, and misleading advertising.
5. How can technology be used ethically? Developing ethical guidelines for AI, ensuring data privacy, and promoting responsible innovation are crucial aspects of ethical technology use.
6. What is the role of empathy in ethical decision-making? Empathy allows us to understand and share the feelings of others, fostering compassion and informed moral choices.
7. How can individuals cultivate ethical behavior? Self-reflection, critical thinking, moral education, and engagement with ethical frameworks are essential.
8. What is the relationship between ethics and law? While laws often reflect ethical principles, they don't always encompass the full range of moral considerations.
9. How does ethical reasoning differ from emotional responses? Ethical reasoning involves a structured, rational process of evaluating moral principles and consequences, whereas emotional responses are immediate and often less considered.
Related Articles:
1. The History of Moral Philosophy: A chronological exploration of ethical thought across various cultures and historical periods.
2. Kantian Ethics Explained: A detailed examination of Immanuel Kant's deontological framework.
3. Utilitarianism: A Practical Guide: An accessible overview of utilitarianism and its applications.
4. Virtue Ethics in the Modern World: An exploration of the relevance of virtue ethics in contemporary society.
5. The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: A discussion of ethical challenges posed by AI development and deployment.
6. Environmental Ethics and Climate Change: An analysis of the ethical dimensions of climate change and environmental protection.
7. Bioethics: A Multidisciplinary Approach: A comprehensive overview of the ethical issues in healthcare and biomedical research.
8. Social Justice and the Pursuit of Equality: An exploration of ethical frameworks for promoting social justice and equality.
9. The Ethics of Data Privacy and Surveillance: A discussion of the ethical implications of data collection, storage, and usage.
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Steven M. Cahn, Peter J. Markie, 2019-10 Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Seventh Edition, is the most comprehensive anthology on ethics, featuring sixty-three selections organized into three parts and providing instructors with the greatest flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of introduction to ethics courses. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, Historical Sources, ranges from ancient Greece to the twentieth century. It moves from classical thought through medieval views to modern theories, culminating with leading nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinkers. The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the past century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers, while landmark selections reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of duty, justice, and rights are explored, as well as recent views on cultural relativism and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns. In the third part, Contemporary Moral Issues, the readings present the current debates over abortion, euthanasia, famine relief, animal rights, environmentalism, the use of torture in interrogations, death, and the meaning of life. Wherever possible, each reading is printed in its entirety. An ARC for both students and instructors will accompany the text. The Instructor side will include items such as PowerPoint lecture outlines, reading summaries, essay questions, and sample syllabi. Student side will feature student self-test questions, suggested readings, and helpful web links-- |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Steven M. Cahn, Peter J. Markie, 2012 Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Fifth Edition, features sixty-nine selections organized into three parts, providing instructors with great flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, Historical Sources, ranges from ancient Greece to the twentieth century. It moves from classical thought through medieval views to modern theories, culminating with leading nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinkers. The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the past century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers, while landmark selections reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of duty, justice, and rights are explored, as well as recent views on cultural relativism and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns. In the third part, Contemporary Moral Problems, the readings present the current debates over abortion, euthanasia, famine relief, animal rights, environmentalism, and the use of torture in interrogations, as well as essays on death and the meaning of life. Wherever possible, each reading is printed in its entirety. The fifth edition features new readings from Cicero, Barbara Herman, and Judith Jarvis Thomson; an expanded selection from Joseph Butler's Fifteen Sermons; and a new translation of Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Mor |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Steven M. Cahn, Peter J. Markie, 2019 Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Seventh Edition, is the most comprehensive anthology on ethics, featuring sixty-three selections organized into three parts and providing instructors with the greatest flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of introduction to ethics courses. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, Historical Sources, ranges from ancient Greece to the twentieth century. It moves from classical thought through medieval views to modern theories, culminating with leading nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinkers. The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the past century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers, while landmark selections reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of duty, justice, and rights are explored, as well as recent views on cultural relativism and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns. In the third part, Contemporary Moral Issues, the readings present the current debates over abortion, euthanasia, famine relief, animal rights, environmentalism, the use of torture in interrogations, death, and the meaning of life. Wherever possible, each reading is printed in its entirety. An ARC for both students and instructors will accompany the text. The Instructor side will include items such as PowerPoint lecture outlines, reading summaries, essay questions, and sample syllabi. Student side will feature student self-test questions, suggested readings, and helpful web links-- |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Barbara MacKinnon, 2004 Learn to look analytically at more than one side of an issue before deciding for yourself what position you will take. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Leathard, Audrey, McLaren, Susan, 2007-01-10 While ethics has been addressed in the health care literature, relatively little attention has been paid to the subject in the field of social care. This book redresses the balance by examining theory, research, policy and practice in both fields. The analysis is set within the context of contemporary challenges facing health and social care, not only in Britain but internationally. Contributors from the UK, US and Australia consider ethical issues in health and social care research and governance; interprofessional and user perspectives; ethics in relation to human rights, the law, finance, management and provision; key issues of relevance to vulnerable groups such as children and young people, those with complex disabilities, older people and those with mental health problems and lifecourse issues - ethical perspectives on a range of challenging areas from new technologies of reproduction to euthanasia. This book is intended for academics, students and researchers in health and social care who need an up-to-date analysis of contemporary issues and debates. It will also be useful to practitioners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, including social workers, community workers, those working in the fields of disability and mental health and with older people. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Introduction to Philosophy Christina Hendricks, George Matthews, 2020-02-27 We often make judgments about good and bad, right and wrong. Philosophical ethics is the critical examination of these and other concepts central to how we evaluate our own and each others' behavior and choices. This text examines some of the main threads of discussion on these topics that have developed over the last couple of millenia, mostly within the Western cultural tradition.The book is designed to be used alone or alongside a reader of historical and contemporary original sources, and is freely available in web and digital formats at https: //press.rebus.community/intro-to-phil-ethics/. If you are adopting or adapting this book for a course, please let us know on our adoption form for the Introduction to Philosophy open textbook series: https: //docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwf2E7bRGvWefjhNZ07kgpgnNFxVxxp-iidPE5gfDBQNGBGg/viewform?usp=sf_link. Cover art by Heather Salazar; cover design by Jonathan Lashley. One of nine books in the Introduction to Philosophy open textbook serie |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: History of Ethics Daniel Star, Roger Crisp, 2019-05-06 Is there an objective moral standard that applies to all our actions? To what extent should I sacrifice my own interests for the sake of others? How might philosophers of the past help us think about contemporary ethical problems? As the most recent addition to the Blackwell Readings in Philosophy series, History of Ethics: Essential Readings with Commentary brings together rich and varied excerpts of canonical work and contemporary scholarship to span the history of Western moral philosophy in one volume. Editors Star and Crisp, noted scholars in their fields, expertly introduce the readings to illuminate the main philosophical ideas and arguments in each selection, and connect them to broader themes. These detailed and incisive editorial commentaries make the primary source texts accessible to students while guiding them chronologically through the history of Western ethics. Structured around a thematic table of contents divided into three distinct sections, History of Ethics charts patterns in the development of ethical thought across time to highlight connections between intellectual movements. Selections range from the work of well-known figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, and Mill to the work of philosophers often overlooked by such anthologies, including Butler, Smith, Sidgwick, Anscombe, Foot, and Frankena. Star and Crisp skillfully arrange the collection to connect readings to contemporary issues and interests by featuring examples such as Aquinas on self-defense and the doctrine of double effect, Kant on virtue, and Mill’s The Subjection of Women. Written for students and scholars of ethics, History of Ethics is a comprehensive collection of readings with expert editorial commentary that curates the most important and influential work in the history of ethics in the Western world. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Oxford Handbook of Animal Ethics Tom L. Beauchamp, R.G. Frey, 2011-11-17 This text is designed to capture the nature of the questions as they stand today and to propose solutions to many of the major problems in the ethics of how we use animals. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Doing Ethics Lewis Vaughn, 2013 The most accessible and practical introduction to ethical theory, moral issues, and moral reasoning. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Oxford Handbook of the History of Ethics Roger Crisp, 2013-01-31 Philosophical ethics consists in the human endeavour to answer rationally the fundamental question of how we should live. The Oxford Handbook of the History of Ethics explores the history of philosophical ethics in the western tradition from Homer until the present day. It provides a broad overview of the views of many of the main thinkers, schools, and periods, and includes in addition essays on topics such as autonomy and impartiality. The authors are international leaders in their field, and use their expertise and specialist knowledge to illuminate the relevance of their work to discussions in contemporary ethics. The essays are specially written for this volume, and in each case introduce the reader to the main lines of interpretation and criticism that have arisen in the professional history of philosophy over the past two or three decades. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Social Work Values and Ethics Frederic G. Reamer, 2024-05-28 For decades, teachers and practitioners have turned to Frederic G. Reamer’s Social Work Values and Ethics as the leading introduction to ethical decision making, dilemmas, and professional conduct in practice. A case-driven, concise, and comprehensive textbook for undergraduate and graduate social work programs, this book surveys the most critical issues for social work practitioners. This sixth edition incorporates significant updates to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and discussion of challenging issues related to cultural competency, antiracism, moral injury, human rights, environmental justice, ethical humility, non-Western perspectives on ethics, and practitioner self-care. Reamer also focuses on how social workers should navigate the digital world through discussion of the ethical issues that arise from practitioner use of online services and social networking sites to deliver services, communicate with clients, and provide information to the public, and he examines the standards that protect confidential information transmitted electronically. He highlights potential conflicts between professional ethics and legal guidelines and expands discussions of informed consent, confidentiality and privileged communication, boundaries and dual relationships, documentation, conflicts of interest, and risk management. Conceptually rich and attuned to the complexities of ethical decision making, Social Work Values and Ethics is unique in striking the right balance among history, theory, and practical application. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics in the Field Jeremy MacClancy, Agustín Fuentes, 2013-07-01 In recent years ever-increasing concerns about ethical dimensions of fieldwork practice have forced anthropologists and other social scientists to radically reconsider the nature, process, and outcomes of fieldwork: what should we be doing, how, for whom, and to what end? In this volume, practitioners from across anthropological disciplines—social and biological anthropology and primatology—come together to question and compare the ethical regulation of fieldwork, what is common to their practices, and what is distinctive to each discipline. Contributors probe a rich variety of contemporary questions: the new, unique problems raised by conducting fieldwork online and via email; the potential dangers of primatological fieldwork for locals, primates, the environment, and the fieldworkers themselves; the problems of studying the military; and the role of ethical clearance for anthropologists involved in international health programs. The distinctive aim of this book is to develop of a transdisciplinary anthropology at the methodological, not theoretical, level. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Margaret A. Burkhardt, Alvita K. Nathaniel, 2019-12-02 Learn how to think beyond the theoretical in any environment. Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing, 1st Edition examines the latest trends, principles, theories, and models in patient care to help you learn how to make ethically sound decisions in complex and often controversial situations. Written from a global perspective, examples throughout the text reflect current national and international issues inviting you to explore cases considering socio-cultural influences, personal values, and professional ethics. Historical examples demonstrate how to think critically while upholding moral and professional standards, as well as the law. Key topics throughout explore advocacy and rights, diversity, nurse burnout, mass casualty events, social media, violence in the workplace, medication error prevention, opioid and other substance use, HIPAA, and healthcare reform. In addition, this new title contains supplemental case studies and review questions to further challenge and prepare you to make morally sound decisions in any healthcare setting. NEW! Case Presentations from the United States and around the World address ethical dilemmas across the practice of nursing. NEW! Think About It boxes present provocative questions within every case presentation. NEW! Thoroughly up-to-date and well referenced content ensures material presented is accurate. NEW! Straightforward and conversational writing style makes content interesting and understandable. NEW! Review questions on Evolve allow students to practice what they have learned. NEW! Case studies on Evolve help students apply the theoretical concepts they have learned. NEW! Ask Yourself questions integrated into each chapter help students understand the relevance of the material. NEW! Discussion questions and Activities within every chapter encourage students to think beyond the theoretical. NEW! Summary and Highlights within every chapter make it easier for students to thoroughly understand key elements. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics for A-Level Mark Dimmock, Andrew Fisher, 2017-07-31 What does pleasure have to do with morality? What role, if any, should intuition have in the formation of moral theory? If something is ‘simulated’, can it be immoral? This accessible and wide-ranging textbook explores these questions and many more. Key ideas in the fields of normative ethics, metaethics and applied ethics are explained rigorously and systematically, with a vivid writing style that enlivens the topics with energy and wit. Individual theories are discussed in detail in the first part of the book, before these positions are applied to a wide range of contemporary situations including business ethics, sexual ethics, and the acceptability of eating animals. A wealth of real-life examples, set out with depth and care, illuminate the complexities of different ethical approaches while conveying their modern-day relevance. This concise and highly engaging resource is tailored to the Ethics components of AQA Philosophy and OCR Religious Studies, with a clear and practical layout that includes end-of-chapter summaries, key terms, and common mistakes to avoid. It should also be of practical use for those teaching Philosophy as part of the International Baccalaureate. Ethics for A-Level is of particular value to students and teachers, but Fisher and Dimmock’s precise and scholarly approach will appeal to anyone seeking a rigorous and lively introduction to the challenging subject of ethics. Tailored to the Ethics components of AQA Philosophy and OCR Religious Studies. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Handbook of Social Research Ethics Donna M. Mertens, Pauline E. Ginsberg, 2009 Brings together international scholars across the social and behavioural sciences and education to address those ethical issues that arise in the theory and practice of research within the technologically advancing and culturally complex world in which we live. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Contemporary Ethics William Shaw, 1999-01-14 Aimed at undergraduates, Contemporary Ethics presupposes little or no familiarity with ethics and is written in a clear and engaging style. It provides students with a sympathetic but critical guide to utilitarianism, explaining its different forms and exploring the debates it has spawned. The book leads students through a number of current issues in contemporary ethics that are connected to controversies over and within utilitarianism. At the same time, it uses utilitarianism to introduce students to ethics as a subject. In these ways, the book is not only a guide to utilitarianism, but also an introduction to some standard problems of ethics and to several important topics in contemporary ethical theory. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics George G. Brenkert, Tom L. Beauchamp, 2010 The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics is a comprehensive treatment of business ethics from a philosophical approach. Each chapter is written by an accomplished philosopher who surveys a major ethical issue in business, offers his or her own contribution to the issues that define that topic, and provides a bibliography that identifies key works in the field. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Ethics of Aquinas Stephen J. Pope, 2002 In this comprehensive anthology, twenty-seven outstanding scholars from North America and Europe address every major aspect of Thomas Aquinas's understanding of morality and comment on his remarkable legacy. While there has been a revival of interest in recent years in the ethics of St. Thomas, no single work has yet fully examined the basic moral arguments and content of Aquinas' major moral work, the Second Part of the Summa Theologiae. This work fills that lacuna. The first chapters of The Ethics of Aquinas introduce readers to the sources, methods, and major themes of Aquinas's ethics. The second part of the book provides an extended discussion of ideas in the Second Part of the Summa Theologiae, in which contributors present cogent interpretations of the structure, major arguments, and themes of each of the treatises. The third and final part examines aspects of Thomistic ethics in the twentieth century and beyond. These essays reflect a diverse group of scholars representing a variety of intellectual perspectives. Contributors span numerous fields of study, including intellectual history, medieval studies, moral philosophy, religious ethics, and moral theology. This remarkable variety underscores how interpretations of Thomas's ethics continue to develop and evolve-and stimulate fervent discussion within the academy and the church. This volume is aimed at scholars, students, clergy, and all those who continue to find Aquinas a rich source of moral insight. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Being Good Simon Blackburn, 2002-03-14 It is not only in our dark hours that scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism dog ethics. Whether it is a matter of giving to charity, or sticking to duty, or insisting on our rights, we can be confused, or be paralysed by the fear that our principles are groundless. Many are afraid that in a Godless world science has unmasked us as creatures fated by our genes to be selfish and tribalistic, or competitive and aggressive. Simon Blackburn, author of the best-selling Think, structures this short introduction around these and other threats to ethics. Confronting seven different objections to our self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures, he charts a course through the philosophical quicksands that often engulf us. Then, turning to problems of life and death, he shows how we should think about the meaning of life, and how we should mistrust the sound-bite sized absolutes that often dominate moral debates. Finally he offers a critical tour of the ways the philosophical tradition has tried to provide foundations for ethics, from Plato and Aristotle through to contemporary debates. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Moral Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction Daniel R. DeNicola, 2018-11-30 Moral Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction is a compact yet comprehensive book offering an explication and critique of the major theories that have shaped philosophical ethics. Engaging with both historical and contemporary figures, this book explores the scope, limits, and requirements of morality. DeNicola traces our various attempts to ground morality: in nature, in religion, in culture, in social contracts, and in aspects of the human person such as reason, emotions, caring, and intuition. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Rethinking Health Care Ethics Stephen Scher, Kasia Kozlowska, 2018-08-02 The goal of this open access book is to develop an approach to clinical health care ethics that is more accessible to, and usable by, health professionals than the now-dominant approaches that focus, for example, on the application of ethical principles. The book elaborates the view that health professionals have the emotional and intellectual resources to discuss and address ethical issues in clinical health care without needing to rely on the expertise of bioethicists. The early chapters review the history of bioethics and explain how academics from outside health care came to dominate the field of health care ethics, both in professional schools and in clinical health care. The middle chapters elaborate a series of concepts, drawn from philosophy and the social sciences, that set the stage for developing a framework that builds upon the individual moral experience of health professionals, that explains the discontinuities between the demands of bioethics and the experience and perceptions of health professionals, and that enables the articulation of a full theory of clinical ethics with clinicians themselves as the foundation. Against that background, the first of three chapters on professional education presents a general framework for teaching clinical ethics; the second discusses how to integrate ethics into formal health care curricula; and the third addresses the opportunities for teaching available in clinical settings. The final chapter, Empowering Clinicians, brings together the various dimensions of the argument and anticipates potential questions about the framework developed in earlier chapters. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Understanding Ethics Torbjoern Taennsjoe, 2013-05-31 Torbjoern Taennsjoe presents 7 radically different moral theories "e; utilitarianism, egoism, deontological ethics, the ethics of rights, virtue ethics, feminist ethics, environmental or ecological ethics "e; each of which attempts to provide the ultimate answ |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethnic Ethics Anthony J. Cortese, 1990-07-05 This book explains and offers insights into the humanizing effects of the ethnic and cultural sources of moral values. The author provides an alternative to the concept of moral development formulated by Lawrence Kohlberg, arguing that morality is socially constructed, not based on rational principles of individuals. Cortese offers critical analyses of ethnicity and moral judgment, combining two controversial and central areas: morality and race relations. Critiquing the cognitive-developmental model, Cortese examines social class, gender, and ethnic differences in moral judgment and concludes that moral judgment reflects the structure of social relations, not the structure of human cognition. He carefully situates his own argument in relation to both Kolbergian theory and the feminist critique thereof. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethical Reasoning: Theory and Application Andrew Kernohan, 2020-09-30 The philosophical tradition has given rise to many competing moral theories. Virtue ethics encourages the flourishing of the person, theories of justice and rights tell us to act according to principles, and consequentialist theories advise that we seek to bring about good ends. These varied theories highlight the morally relevant features of the problems that we encounter both in everyday personal interactions and on a broader social scale. When used together, they allow us to address moral conflicts by balancing a plurality of reasons in order to reach nuanced ethical decisions. In Ethical Reasoning: Theory and Application, Andrew Kernohan guides the reader through the basics of these moral theories, showing their strengths and weaknesses and emphasizing the ways in which competing moral reasons can be collectively employed to guide decision-making. Throughout, the focus is on practical applications and on how each theory can play a role in solving problems and addressing issues. Numerous questions and exercises are provided to encourage active reflection and retention of information. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: An Introduction to Health Care Ethics Michael R. Panicola, 2007 An ideal introduction to health care ethics for students who are unfamiliar with the subject area. Author-ethicists Michael Panicola, David Belde, John Paul Slosar, and Mark Repenshek have crafted a text grounded in rich theological and philosophical traditions and presented in an engaging manner. This text provides students with an understanding of the foundational aspects of health care ethics and leads them into a discussion of contemporary issues through the use of timely and challenging case studies. A unique focus on discernment and decision making brings the material to life for students. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Harry J. Gensler, 1998 First Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Kingdom Ethics, 2nd ed. David P. Gushee , Glen H. Stassen , 2016 Comprehensive update of the leading Christian ethics textbook of the 21st century Ever since its original publication in 2003, Glen Stassen and David Gushee's Kingdom Ethics has offered students, pastors, and other readers an outstanding framework for Christian ethical thought, one that is solidly rooted in Scripture, especially Jesus's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. This substantially revised edition of Kingdom Ethics features enhanced and updated treatments of all major contemporary ethical issues. David Gushee's revisions include updated data and examples, a more global perspective, more gender-inclusive language, a clearer focus on methodology, discussion questions added |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics Anna C. Mastroianni, Jeffrey P. Kahn, Nancy E. Kass, 2019-07-23 Natural disasters and cholera outbreaks. Ebola, SARS, and concerns over pandemic flu. HIV and AIDS. E. coli outbreaks from contaminated produce and fast foods. Threats of bioterrorism. Contamination of compounded drugs. Vaccination refusals and outbreaks of preventable diseases. These are just some of the headlines from the last 30-plus years highlighting the essential roles and responsibilities of public health, all of which come with ethical issues and the responsibilities they create. Public health has achieved extraordinary successes. And yet these successes also bring with them ethical tension. Not all public health successes are equally distributed in the population; extraordinary health disparities between rich and poor still exist. The most successful public health programs sometimes rely on policies that, while improving public health conditions, also limit individual rights. Public health practitioners and policymakers face these and other questions of ethics routinely in their work, and they must navigate their sometimes competing responsibilities to the health of the public with other important societal values such as privacy, autonomy, and prevailing cultural norms. This Oxford Handbook provides a sweeping and comprehensive review of the current state of public health ethics, addressing these and numerous other questions. Taking account of the wide range of topics under the umbrella of public health and the ethical issues raised by them, this volume is organized into fifteen sections. It begins with two sections that discuss the conceptual foundations, ethical tensions, and ethical frameworks of and for public health and how public health does its work. The thirteen sections that follow examine the application of public health ethics considerations and approaches across a broad range of public health topics. While chapters are organized into topical sections, each chapter is designed to serve as a standalone contribution. The book includes 73 chapters covering many topics from varying perspectives, a recognition of the diversity of the issues that define public health ethics in the U.S. and globally. This Handbook is an authoritative and indispensable guide to the state of public health ethics today. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Personal Identity and Applied Ethics Andrea Sauchelli, 2017-11-10 'Soul', 'self', ‘substance’ and 'person' are just four of the terms often used to refer to the human individual. Cutting across metaphysics, ethics, and religion the nature of personal identity is a fundamental and long-standing puzzle in philosophy. Personal Identity and Applied Ethics introduces and examines different conceptions of the self, our nature, and personal identity and considers the implications of these for applied ethics. A key feature of the book is that it discusses a range of different approaches to personal identity; philosophical, religious and cross-cultural, including perspectives from non-Western traditions. Within this comparative framework, Andrea Sauchelli examines the following topics: Early views of the soul in Plato, Christianity and Descartes The Buddhist 'no-self' views and the self as a fiction Confucian ideas of our nature and the importance of self-cultivation as constitutive of the self Locke's theory of personal identity as continuity of consciousness and memory and objections by Butler and Reid as well as contemporary critics The theory of 'animalism' and arguments concerning embodied theories of personal identity Practical and narrative theories of personal identity and moral agency Personal identity and issues in applied ethics, including abortion, organ transplantation, and the idea of life after death Implications of life-extending technologies for personal identity. Throughout the book Sauchelli also considers the views of important recent philosophers such as Sydney Shoemaker, Bernard Williams, Derek Parfit, Marya Schechtman and Christine Korsgaard, placing these in helpful historical context. Chapter summaries, a glossary of key terms, and suggestions for further reading make this a refreshing, approachable introduction to personal identity and applied ethics. It is an ideal text for courses on personal identity that consider both western and non-western approaches and that apply theories of personal identity to ethical problems. It will also be of interest to those in related subjects such as religious studies and history of ideas. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Medical Ethics Michael Dunn, R. A. Hope, 2018 Dealing with some of the thorniest problems in medicine, from euthanasia to the distribution of health care resources, this book introduces the reasoning we can use to approach medical ethics. Exploring how medical ethics supports health professionals' work, it also considers the impact of the media, pressure groups, and legal judgments. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Research Ethics Ana Smith Iltis, 2006-01-16 Medicine in the twenty-first century is increasingly reliant on research to guarantee the safety and efficacy of medical interventions. As a result, the need to understand the ethical issues that research generates is becoming essential. This volume introduces the principal areas of concern in research on human subjects, offering a framework for understanding research ethics, and the relationship between ethics and compliance. Research Ethics brings together leading scholars in bioethics and the topics covered include the unique concerns that arise in specific areas of research such as gene therapy and stem cell research. Individual chapters also address the ethical issues that occur when conducting research with specific populations such as infants or adolescents, and the volume looks at important emerging questions in human subjects research, namely financial conflicts of interest and the interpretation of scientific data. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Contemporary Issues in Bioethics Tom L. Beauchamp, LeRoy Walters, 1994 Offers a lucid overview of the central issues in bioethics today, including reproductive technologies, right-to-die, AIDS, eugenics, and human genetics. Presenting differing viewpoints from world-renowned scholars, this thought-provoking book provides an excellent framework for analyzing key issues. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Questioning Ethics Mark Dooley, Richard Kearney, 2002-09-11 This major discussion takes a look at some of the most important ethical issues confronting us today by some of the world’s leading thinkers. Including essays from leading thinkers, such as Jurgen Habermas, Alasdair MacIntyre, Julia Kristeva and Paul Ricoeur, the book’s highlight – an interview with Jacques Derrida - presents the most accessible insight into his thinking on ethics and politics for many years. Exploring topics ranging from history, memory, revisionism, and the self and responsibility to democracy, multiculturalism, feminism and the future of politics, the essays are grouped into five thematic sections: * hermeneutics * deconstruction * critical theory * psychoanalysis * applied ethics. Each section considers the challenges posed by ethics and how critical thinking has transformed philosophy today. Questioning Ethics affords an unsurpassed overview of the state of ethical thinking today by some of the world’s foremost philosophers. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: A Theory of Justice John RAWLS, 2009-06-30 Though the revised edition of A Theory of Justice, published in 1999, is the definitive statement of Rawls's view, so much of the extensive literature on Rawls's theory refers to the first edition. This reissue makes the first edition once again available for scholars and serious students of Rawls's work. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Practical Ethics Peter Singer, 2011-02-21 For thirty years, Peter Singer's Practical Ethics has been the classic introduction to applied ethics. For this third edition, the author has revised and updated all the chapters and added a new chapter addressing climate change, one of the most important ethical challenges of our generation. Some of the questions discussed in this book concern our daily lives. Is it ethical to buy luxuries when others do not have enough to eat? Should we buy meat from intensively reared animals? Am I doing something wrong if my carbon footprint is above the global average? Other questions confront us as concerned citizens: equality and discrimination on the grounds of race or sex; abortion, the use of embryos for research and euthanasia; political violence and terrorism; and the preservation of our planet's environment. This book's lucid style and provocative arguments make it an ideal text for university courses and for anyone willing to think about how she or he ought to live. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: John Dewey’s Ethical Theory Roberto Frega, Steven Levine, 2020-09-03 This book provides a wide-ranging, systematic, and comprehensive approach to the moral philosophy of John Dewey, one of the most important philosophers of the 20th century. It does so by focusing on his greatest achievement in this field: the Ethics he jointly published with James Hayden Tufts in 1908 and then republished in a heavily revised version in 1932. The essays in this volume are divided into two distinct parts. The first features essays that provide a running commentary on the chapters of the 1932 Ethics written by Dewey. Each chapter is introduced, situated within a historical perspective, and then its main achievements are highlighted and discussed. The second part of the book interprets the Ethics and demonstrates its contemporary relevance and vitality. The essays in this part situate the Ethics in the broader interpretive frameworks of Dewey’s philosophy, American pragmatism, and 20th-century moral theory at large. Taken together, these essays show that, far from being a mere survey of moral theories, the 1932 Ethics presents the theoretical highpoint in Dewey’s thinking about moral philosophy. This book features contributions by some of the most influential Dewey scholars from North America and Europe. It will be of keen interest to scholars and students of American pragmatism, ethics and moral philosophy, and the history of 20th-century philosophy. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Ethics Julia Driver, 2013-05-20 Ethics: The Fundamentals explores core ideas and arguments in moral theory by introducing students to different philosophical approaches to ethics, including virtue ethics, Kantian ethics, divine command theory, and feminist ethics. The first volume in the new Fundamentals of Philosophy series. Presents lively, real-world examples and thoughtful discussion of key moral philosophers and their ideas. Constitutes an excellent resource for readers coming to the subject of ethics for the first time. |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Introducing Ethics Justin P. McBrayer, Peter J. Markie, 2014 Introducing Ethics: A Critical Thinking Approach with Readings combines guiding commentary and questions with a rich selection of concise, carefully edited, and accessible readings on ethical theory and contemporary moral issues. This unique introduction shows students how to do philosophy by first analyzing texts--identifying ethical positions and the arguments that support them--and then evaluating the truth of those positions and the soundness of the arguments. In doing so, it provides students with a uniquely engaging introduction to ethics that also hones their critical thinking skills. FEATURES * A unique Unit 1 gives students the conceptual tools to do philosophy with coverage of logic, arguments, moral reasoning, and reading and writing philosophy * Extensive coverage of the three main areas of ethics--metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics--addresses issues often ignored by other texts, including ethics vs. science, moral responsibility, moral vs. legal issues, torture, terrorism, and more * Unit and chapter introductions outline major themes and issues and explain why they matter * Reading questions precede the essays and focus students' studying on key points, while discussion questions follow the readings and help students move into the evaluation phase * Argument Reconstruction Exercises after each reading provide practice in identifying the premises and conclusions in the essays * An Instructor's Manual with Test Bank on CD is available to adopters * A Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/mcbrayer provides all the material contained on the CD along with student resources |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: The Development of Ethics Terence Irwin, 2011 |
| ethics history theory and contemporary issues: Debating Healthcare Ethics Doran Smolkin, Verne Warren Bourgeois, Patrick Findler, 2009-11-10 |
