Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues - Couverture souple

Cahn, Steven M.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0195104536 ISBN 13 : 9780195104530

Editeur : 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.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

The most comprehensive collection of its kind, Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Fourth Edition, is essentially three books in one. Its sixty-seven selections are organized into three parts, providing instructors with great flexibility in designing and teaching a variety of courses in moral philosophy. Spanning 2,500 years of ethical theory, the first part, Historical Sources, ranges from ancient Greece to the twentieth century. It 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), culminating with leading nineteenth- and twentieth-century thinkers (Nietzsche, Camus, and Sartre). The second part, Modern Ethical Theory, includes many of the most important essays of the past century. The discussion of utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism, and relativism continues in the work of major contemporary philosophers (Foot, Brandt, Williams, Wolf, and Nagel). Landmark selections (Moore, Prichard, Ross, Ayer, Stevenson, Hare, Baier, Anscombe, Mackie, Gauthier, and Harman) reflect concern with moral language and the justification of morality. The concepts of justice (Rawls) and rights (Feinberg) are explored, as well as recent views on cultural relativism (Rachels) and an ethic influenced by feminist concerns (Held). In the third part, Contemporary Moral Problems, the readings present the current debates over abortion, euthanasia, famine relief, animal rights, and--for the first time in this edition--environmentalism and the use of torture in interrogations. Part III concludes with two new essays on death and the meaning of life. Wherever possible, each reading is printed in its entirety. Part I of this fourth edition features extended selections from all three essays of Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals (with explanatory notes) and additional materials from Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature. Part II contains new essays by John McDowell and Christine Korsgaard, while Part III offers new readings from Elliott Sober, Henry Shue, Daniel J. Hill, Thomas Nagel, and Richard Taylor.

Biographie de l'auteur

Steven M. Cahn is Professor of Philosophy at The City University of New York Graduate Center. Peter Markie is Curators' Teaching Professor of Philosophy at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Oxford University Press Inc
• Date d'édition: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0195104536
• ISBN 13: 9780195104530
• Reliure: Broché
• Langue: anglais
• Nombre de pages: 1008