The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Ethics

by Ingram, David; Parks, Ph.D., Jennifer A.

• ISBN13: 9780028643250
• ISBN10: 0028643259
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

Un pirata informático irrumpe clandestinamente en el ordenador personal del Papa mientras, en Sevilla, una iglesia barroca se ve obligada a defenderse matando a quienes están dispuestos a demolerla. El Vaticano envía un agente, sacerdote, especializado en asuntos sucios: el astuto y apuesto padre Lorenzo Quart, quien en el curso de sus investigaciones verá quebrantarse sus convicciones y hasta peligrar sus votos de castidad ante una bella aristócrata andaluza que fascina a la sociedad Sevillana. Cerca merodean tres pintorescos malvados aspiran a mantener viva la copla española. Un banquero celoso y su secretario ludópata. Una septuagenaria que bebe Coca-Cola. La tarjeta postal de una mujer muerta un siglo atrás. Y el misterioso legado del capitán Xaloc, último corsario español, desaparecido frente a las costas de Cuba en 1898...

Table of Contents

Part 1: Doing Ethics Right and Doing the Right Ethics	1	(62)
So, What's Your Philosophy of Life?	3	(10)
Norms give meaning and purpose to life, but a life that hasn't been morally examined isn't really worth living
The Inevitability of Ethical Dilemmas	13	(12)
Moral dilemmas are the very spice of life, but you need ethics to help resolve them
Convince Me That I'm Wrong	25	(10)
You have to think through moral problems with others in a way that is both logical and impartial
God Made Me Do It	35	(16)
There's a big difference between using faith and reason as your moral guide, but either or both can play a rightful role
Let Science Be Your Guide	51	(12)
Appealing to science as your sole moral guide is as risky as appealing to religion as your sole moral guide
Part 2: What Does it All Mean? The Nature of Ethics	63	(36)
``Me First'' Ethics	65	(10)
We don't have to be narrowly self-centered, nor should we be
``Us First'' Ethics	75	(12)
What's right and wrong isn't up to you or your culture to decide
Cynical About Ethics?	87	(12)
Although we have to be aware of moral hypocrisy and unhealthy moral extremes, being cynical about ethics is itself hypocritical and unhealthy
Part 3: General Recipes for Guiding Ethical Decision-Making	99	(92)
Ancient Greek Virtue Ethics	101	(10)
Doing the right thing comes from being endowed with character strengths that are also good and healthy for those who possess them
Middle Age Virtues	111	(10)
We can scarcely avoid appealing to human nature in understanding our most basic moral norms, but doing so involves uncertainty
Modern Social Contract Theory	121	(14)
We can think of the most important moral rules as if they were based on an agreement for mutual cooperation and mutual benefit
We Can't Forget Kant	135	(12)
Some moral duties cannot be compromised without violating the basic rights of persons
Consequentialist Theories	147	(10)
There are no duties that cannot be compromised for the sake of furthering the greatest happiness for the greatest number
Using the ``F'' Word: Feminist Ethics	157	(10)
Duties of justice and happiness-promoting actions cannot replace our personal obligations as caregivers for dependent persons
There's a Fly in My Recipe	167	(12)
No moral recipe taken singly is adequate for dealing with all of life's moral dilemmas
Mixing Recipes	179	(12)
Despite their apparent incompatibilities, moral recipes complement one another and can be combined in useful ways
Part 4: Applied Ethics	191	(52)
Environmental Ethics	193	(12)
Our duties with respect to our environment cannot all be decided on the basis of cost-benefit analyses
Biomedical Ethics	205	(12)
Decisions about life and death often boil down to the peculiarities of each individual case
Business Ethics	217	(14)
Putting profits before ethics isn't always profitable and, hey, it's wrong!
Ethics and Animals	231	(12)
To eat or not to eat-that is the question
Part 5: Beyond the Personal: The Ethics of Social Justice	243	(104)
We're Talking Social Justice!	245	(14)
Yes, society does owe us something
The Immigration Controversy	259	(10)
Patriotism may light up my sky but we mustn't forget that a person is a human being, no matter where he's from
Economic Justice	269	(16)
Sure, capitalism cranks out the goodies, but is it good and just?
Political Justice	285	(14)
Remembering Presidential Election 2000: When having the right to vote isn't enough
Gender Justice	299	(12)
You don't have to have a penis in order to be treated with equal respect
Affirmative Action and Multiculturalism	311	(14)
It's that confusing census thing; or how I classify myself affects how I'm treated
Getting Our Just Des(s)erts	325	(22)
Here's some more food for thought to sweeten what you've already got
Appendixes
A Glossary	337	(6)
B For Future Reference	343	(4)
Index	347