Ethical Communication : Moral Stances in Human Dialogue

by Christians, Clifford G.; Merrill, John C.

• ISBN13: 9780826218469
• ISBN10: 0826218466
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-13
• Publisher: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI PRESS

Summary

Proponents of professional ethics recognize the importance of theory but also know that the field of ethics is best understood through real-world applications. This book introduces students and practitioners to important ethical concepts through the lives of major thinkers ranging from Aristotle to Ayn Rand, John Stuart Mill to the Dalai Lama. Some two dozen contributors approach media ethics from five perspectives-altruistic, egoistic, autonomous, legalist, and communitarian-and use real people as examples to convey ethical concepts as something more than mere abstractions. Readers see how Confucius represents group loyalty; Gandhi, nonviolent action; Mother Teresa, the spirit of sacrifice. Each profile provides biographical material, the individualrs"s basic ethical position and contribution, and insight into how his or her moral teachings can help the modern communicator. The roster of thinkers is gender inclusive, ethnically diverse, and spans a broad range of time and geography to challenge the misperception that moral theory is dominated by Western males. These profiles challenge us not to give up on moral thinking in our day but to take seriously the abundance of good ideas in ethics that the human race provides. They speak to real-life struggles by applying to such trials the lasting quality of foundational thought. Many of the root values to which they appeal are cross-cultural, even universal. Exemplifying these five ethical perspectives through more than two dozen mentors provides todayrs"s communicators with a solid grounding of key ideas for improving discussion and attaining social progress in their lives and work. These profiles convey the diversity of means to personal and social betterment through worthwhile ideas that truly make ethics come alive.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
The Altruistic Stance: Loyalty to Others	p. 9
Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama: Universal Compassion	p. 11
Jesus: Loving Neighbors	p. 18
John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism	p. 25
Carol Gilligan: Ethics of Care	p. 33
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Ethics of Personalism	p. 40
Mother Teresa: The Ethics of Sacrifice	p. 46
The Egoistic Stance: Loyalty to Self	p. 53
Aristotle: Self-Development	p. 55
Friedrich Nietzsche: Becoming an Üet;bermensch	p. 61
Machiavelli: Pragmatic Realism	p. 68
Camus: The Rebellious Spirit	p. 74
Kautilya of India: Social Egoism	p. 81
Ayn Rand: Rational Self-Interest	p. 86
The Autonomy Stance: Loyalty to Freedom	p. 93
Henry David Thoreau: Value of Solitude	p. 95
John Locke: Natural Rights	p. 102
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Courage versus Authority	p. 109
Paulo Freire: Face Saving and Communication	p. 115
Hannah Arendt: Public as Authority	p. 121
The Legalist Stance: Loyalty to Authority	p. 127
Plato: Elite Norms	p. 129
Muhammad: Honor-Centered Morality	p. 136
Immanuel Kant: Importance of Duty	p. 145
Moses: Deontological Norms	p. 151
Thomas Hobbes: The Ethics of Social Order	p. 158
The Communitarian Stance: Loyalty to the Community	p. 165
Confucius: Ethics of Character	p. 167
Mohandas Gandhi: Fellowship of Power	p. 173
Karl Marx: Transcending Alienation	p. 180
John Dewey: Democratic Conversation	p. 186
Jüet;rgen Habermas: Consensus and Citizenship	p. 193
Emmanuel Levinas: Priority of the Other	p. 200
Contributors	p. 207
Index	p. 211
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