A Practical Companion to Ethics

by Weston, Anthony

• ISBN13: 9780199730582
• ISBN10: 019973058X
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

A Practical Companion to Ethics, Fourth Edition, is a concise and accessible introduction to the basic attitudes and skills that make ethics work, like thinking for oneself, creative and integrative problem-solving, and keeping an open mind. This unique volume illuminates the broad kinds ofpractical intelligence required in moral judgment, complementing the narrower theoretical considerations that often dominate ethics courses. It offers practical instruction in problem-solving by demonstrating how to frame an ethical problem and deal effectively with ethical disagreements. The bookalso presents ethics as an ongoing learning experience, helping students to engage constructively with both the complexities of their individual lives and with the larger issues that exist in the world around them. The fourth edition retains the most popular features of the previous edition, including challenging and relevant end-of-chapter exercises and brief text boxes that define key terms and review core strategies. The optimistic tone and brisk pace of the narrative provide an entertaining and intelligentguide to "everyday" morality. Ideal for introductory courses in ethics and applied ethics, A Practical Companion to Ethics, Fourth Edition, can also be used in any course related to critical thinking.

Author Biography

Anthony Weston is Professor of Philosophy at Elon University, where he has been named both Teacher of the Year and Scholar of the Year. He is the author of ten other books, including A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox, Creative Problem-Solving in Ethics, and Creativity for Critical Thinkers, all published in 2007 by Oxford University Press.

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with "For Practice" and "Notes" sections.
Preface
1. Getting Started
Who Needs Ethics?
The Dogmatist and the Rationalizer
Ethics and Diversity
2. Beyond Authority
The Limits of Rules
The Limits of Commandments
Thinking for Yourself
3. Ethical Theories
Systematizing Moral Values
Three Ethical Theories
Ethical Theories at Work
4. When Values Clash
Right versus Right
Finding the Best Balance
Moral Vision
5. Creative Problem-Solving in Ethics
Creativity and the Essence of Ethics
Expanding Possibilities
Reframing Problems
6. Making a Difference
Changing Your Life
Changing the World
Making Change Together