Seeing the Light Exploring Ethics Through Movies

by Teays, Wanda

• ISBN13: 9781444332889
• ISBN10: 1444332880
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-05
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Seeing the Light: Exploring Ethics Through Movies is an engaging and innovative approach to the study of philosophy and the development of moral reasoning skills. Features broad coverage of topics in ethics and moral reasoning Offers an innovative and imaginative approach to showing relevance of movies for ethical reflection Draws on a diverse selection of popular movies, foreign films, and documentaries to illustrate ethical dilemmas and character development on the big screen that has application to our lives Presents coverage of major ethical theories ranging from Ethical Egoism and Cultural Relativism to Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, Rawls Justice Theory, Aristotles Virtue Ethics, and Feminist Ethics Demonstrates how film is a powerful vehicle for sharpening skills in analysis and moral reasoning

Author Biography

Wanda Teays is a professor of philosophy and ethics at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, where she is also Chair of the Philosophy Department. She is the author or editor of numerous books and articles on ethics, global justice, and critical reasoning, including Bioethics and Culture; Bioethics, Justice, and Health Care; and Second Thoughts: Critical Thinking for a Diverse Society.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xvi
Introduction to the Text	p. 1
Where We Go From Here	p. 5
Structure of the Text	p. 6
Works Cited	p. 7
Online Resources	p. 7
The Human Condition	p. 9
Introduction to Unit 1	p. 11
Tools for the Journey	p. 14
Aristotle's Poetics and the Six Components of a Movie	p. 15
Works Cited	p. 21
Authenticity	p. 22
The Ethical Framework: Existential Philosophy	p. 23
SPOTLIGHT: Groundhog Day	p. 24
SPOTLIGHT: Up in the Air	p. 30
Short Takes: Revolutionary Road	p. 36
Outtakes: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Paulain (Amélie)	p. 37
Short Takes: The Visitor	p. 3 8
Outtakes: Alice and Midnight in Paris	p. 39
Works Cited	p. 40
Online Resources	p. 41
Discussion Questions	p. 42
Personal Identity	p. 43
SPOTLIGHT: Avatar	p. 45
SPOTLIGHT: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum	p. 48
Short Takes: All of Me	p. 52
Short Takes: Big	p. 55
Short Takes: Prelude to a Kiss	p. 55
Outtakes: The Unmistaken Child	p. 57
Outtakes: Lât Den Rätte Kama In (Let the Right One In)	p. 58
Outtakes: Being John Malkovich and Memento	p. 58
Works Cited	p. 59
Online Resources	p. 60
Discussion Questions	p. 61
Autonomy and Liberty	p. 62
SPOTLIGHT: Million Dollar Baby	p. 64
SPOTLIGHT: District 9	p. 67
SPOTLIGHT: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days	p. 73
5^orf Takes: The Shawshank Redemption	p. 75
Outtakes: The Soloist	p. 77
Outtakes: K-19: The Widowmaker	p. 77
Outtakes: Yogen (Premonition)	p. 78
Work Cited	p. 79
Online Resources	p. 80
Discussion Questions	p. 81
Courage and Inner Strength	p. 32
SPOTLIGHT: The Hurt Locker	p. 85
SPOTLIGHT: The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day	p. 88
SPOTLIGHT: El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)	p. 91
Short Takes: Die Hard	p. 95
Outtakes: Dirty Pretty Things	p. 97
Outtakes: Thunderheart	p. 93
Works Cited	p. 99
Online Resources	p. 99
Discussion Questions	p. 100
Ethical Theory	p. 101
Introduction to Unit 2	p. 103
Moral Agency	p. 104
Applying the Theories	p. 105
Works Cited	p. 115
Online Resources	p. 115
Discussion Questions	p. 116
Ethical Egoism	p. 117
The Ethical Framework: Ethical Egoism	p. 119
SPOTLIGHT: What About Bob?	p. 121
SPOTLIGHT: The Proposal	p. 125
Short Takes: Clueless	p. 128
Outtakes: The Social Network	p. 130
Outtakes: The Purple Rose of Cairo	p. 131
Outtakes: Solitary Man	p. 132
Outtakes: Ghost Town	p. 133
Works Cited	p. 133
Online Resources	p. 134
Discussion Questions	p. 134
Cultural Relativism	p. 134
We Ethical Framework: Cultural Relativism	p. 136
SPOTLIGHT: Witness	p. 138
SPOTLIGHT: Gran Torino	p. 140
SPOTLIGHT: Mutluluk (Bliss)	p. 142
Short Takes: Boyz N the Hood	p. 144
Short Takes: The Godfather	p. 145
Outtakes: The Namesake	p. 147
Works Cited	p. 148
Online Resources	p. 149
Discussion Questions	p. 149
Utilitarianism	p. 150
The Ethical Framework: Utilitarianism	p. 151
SPOTLIGHT: Outbreak	p. 153
SPOTLIGHT: Minority Report	p. 155
Short Takes: The Manchurian Candidate	p. 158
Short Takes: Torchwood: Children of Earth	p. 159
Short Takes: Secrecy	p. 160
Outtakes: Star Chamber	p. 162
Outtakes: Inception	p. 163
Works Cited	p. 165
Online Resources	p. 166
Discussion Questions	p. 166
Kantian Ethics	p. 167
The Ethical Framework: Kantian Ethics	p. 169
SPOTLIGHT: Men	p. 171
SPOTLIGHT: The Truman Show	p. 176
SPOTLIGHT: School of Rock	p. 178
Short Takes: La Historia Oficial (The Official Story) Cautiva (Captive)	p. 180
Short Takes: Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring	p. 182
Outtakes: Shattered Glass	p. 183
Works Cited	p. 184
Online Resources	p. 185
Discussion Questions	p. 185
Rawls' Justice Theory	p. 186
The Ethical Framework: Rawls' "Justice As Fairnessö	p. 188
SPOTLIGHT: My Cousin Vinny	p. 190
SPOTLIGHT: The Accused and The Brave One	p. 193
Short Takes: Michael Clayton	p. 197
Short Takes: John Q	p. 199
Short Takes: Stand and Deliver	p. 201
Outtakes: El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes)	p. 203
Outtakes: Food, Inc. and Darwin's Nightmare	p. 204
Works Cited	p. 205
Online Resources	p. 205
Discussion Questions	p. 206
Aristotle's Virtue Ethics	p. 207
The Ethical Framework: Aristotle's Virtue Ethics	p. 208
SPOTLIGHT: The Insider	p. 210
SPOTLIGHT: To Kill a Mockingbird	p. 214
Short Takes: Idiocracy	p. 218
Short Takes: Lethal Weapon 2	p. 219
Outtakes: Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and Taxi to the Dark Side	p. 220
Works Cited	p. 223
Online Resources	p. 223
Discussion Questions	p. 224
Feminist Ethics	p. 225
The Ethical Framework: Feminist Ethics	p. 226
SPOTLIGHT: Pleasantville	p. 230
SPOTLIGHT: The Island	p. 234
Short Takes: Terminator 2: Judgment Day	p. 237
Short Takes: Secrets and Lies	p. 239
Outtakes: Salt	p. 240
Works Cited	p. 241
Online Resources	p. 242
Discussion Questions	p. 242
Ethical Dilemmas	p. 245
Introduction to Unit 3	p. 247
Works Cited	p. 251
Online Resources	p. 251
Confronting the Dilemma	p. 253
Setting Up the Dilemma	p. 254
SPOTLIGHT: Fargo	p. 258
SPOTLIGHT: Vitus	p. 263
Short Takes: Fearless and The Sweet Hereafter	p. 265
Short Takes: The Fabulous Baker Boys and Crazy Heart	p. 267
Outtakes: Juno	p. 268
Outtakes: Slumdog Millionaire	p. 268
Works Cited	p. 269
Online Resources	p. 269
Discussion Questions	p. 270
Encountering Evil	p. 271
SPOTLIGHT: Silence of the Lambs	p. 274
SPOTLIGHT: The Dark Knight and The Empire Strikes Back	p. 277
SPOTLIGHT: Wizard of Oz	p. 280
Short Takes: Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)	p. 283
Short Takes: The Matrix	p. 284
Outtakes: Fanny and Alexander	p. 285
Outtakes: Nuit et Brouillard (Night and Fog)	p. 285
Work Cited	p. 287
Online Resources	p. 288
Discussion Questions	p. 288
Impact of Perspective	p. 289
Assessing the Impact of Diverse Perspectives	p. 290
Frames of Reference	p. 291
SPOTLIGHT: House of Sand and Fog	p. 292
SPOTLIGHT: 21 Grams	p. 295
SPOTLIGHT: Powwow Highway	p. 298
Short Takes: Så som i himmele (As it is in Heaven)	p. 302
Outtakes: Mississippi Masala	p. 304
Outtakes: Paradise Now	p. 304
Works Cited	p. 305
Online Resources	p. 305
Discussion Questions	p. 306
Reflecting on Ethical Decisions	p. 307
Ethical Reflection	p. 308
SPOTLIGHT: Touching the Void	p. 311
SPOTLIGHT: Sleep Dealer	p. 315
Short Takes: Thelma & Louise	p. 318
Short Takes: The Verdict	p. 320
Short Takes: North Country	p. 321
Outtakes: Efter brylluppe (After the Wedding)	p. 324
Works Cited	p. 325
Online Resources	p. 325
Discussion Questions	p. 326
Conclusion and Sources	p. 327
Conclusion to the Text	p. 329
Work Cited	p. 332
Reading List	p. 333
Contemporary Moral Problems	p. 335
Official Websites	p. 338
Index	p. 344
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