Ethics: History, Theory and Contemporary Issues - Softcover

Cahn, Steven M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195104536 ISBN 13: 9780195104530

Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1998

Synopsis

This collection is organized into sections, intended to provide instructors with flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. Opening with Alasdair MacIntyre's discussion of the importance of the history of ethics, the first section, Historical Sources, moves from classical thought (Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus and Epictetus) through medieval views (Augustine and Aquinas) to modern theories (Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, Bentham and Mill). It culminates with the religiosity of Kierkegaard, the pessimism of Schopenhauer, the nihilism of Nietzsche, the pragmatism of James and Dewey, and the existentialism of Camus and Sartre. The readings are reprinted in their entirety wherever possible. The second section of the text, Modern Ethical Theory, begins with James Rachels' overview of recent developments and includes many important essays of the 20th century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers (Williams, Brandt, Feinberg, Foot and Rachels). This book is intended for students taking introductory ethics and moral philosophy courses.

About this title

Review

"There are so many excellent selections covering a broad range of authors and topics that instructors have a more than ample pool from which to construct any number of rich syllabi, allowing for lots of flexibility. I have used this book nearly every semester for more than a decade. It still seems to me to be the best."--William J. FitzPatrick, University of Rochester

Book Description

TEXTBOOK

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195104536
• ISBN 13: 9780195104530
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 1008