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Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

Print Price: $199.99

Format:
Paperback
480 pp.
15 figures, 2 photos (fine art), 7" x 9"

ISBN-13:
9780195425611

Copyright Year:
2011

Imprint: OUP Canada


Moral Reasoning

Rediscovering the Ethical Tradition

Louis Groarke

Comprehensive and accessible, Moral Reasoning introduces students to the historical foundations of moral theory and contemporary ethics. Beginning with Aristotle, the text offers a careful, in-depth introduction to the many schools of moral thought that have contributed to Western philosophy, exploring such topics as utilitarianism, deontology, liberalism, human rights, virtue, and religious ethics. With contemporary examples incorporated throughout, this innovative new book fosters critical reflection on topical moral issues, encouraging students to develop a personal moral compass that transcends peer pressure and ideology.

Readership : Second- and third-year university students taking introductory courses in introduction to moral philosophy and introduction to ethics.

Reviews

  • "This is a refreshing and needed approach to the history of ethics that makes it a living and challenging inquiry and practice."

    "The motive of the work, 'to inspire students' rather than oppressing them with moral dogma, is a refreshing strength, as is the approach the author takes to do this, using classical texts in the history of philosophy as the beginning points of discourse and inquiry instead of as dead documents. Furthermore, the approach emphasizes a mainstream tradition of ethical thought based in Aristotle's virtue ethics; doing so provides a continuity to a long and varied tradition and displaces the contemporary fixation on moral rules and extreme examples."

    --Peter Trnka, Memorial University of Newfoundland


  • "The discussion of main topics is highly readable and accessible, and yet sufficient depth and rigour of discussion is offered. First-time students will find the book both accessible and yet it will challenge their thinking in a way that a good introductory text should... The author has a very extensive grasp of the subject, one which displays both philosophical insight and pedagogical experience."

    --David Elliott, University of Regina

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
What Is Ethics?
To Whom Is This Book Addressed?
This Book Presents an Alternative Account of Moral Philosophy
This Book Is an Account of Virtue Ethics in the Spirit of Aristotle
What Is the Purpose of Ethics?
Questions for Study and Review
2. Moral Epistemology: We Can Reason about Morality
What is Moral Epistemology?
How Do We Reason
Challenges to Moral Epistemology
The 'Is-Ought' Fallacy
Why Should I be Moral? A Self-Interested Challenge
Moral Philosophy Requires Objectivity and Subjectivity
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
3. The Early Tradition: From Confucius to Jesus and Beyond
Introduction
Master Kong (Confucius)
Heraclitus
Democritus
Diogenes the Cynic
Epicurus
Epictetus
Pyrrho
Protagoras
Jesus
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
4. Socrates and Plato
Introduction
Socratic Teachings
Plato's Teachings
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
5. Understanding Moral Theory: Aristotle
Introduction
On Happiness (Eudaimonia)
On Virtue (Arete)
On Practical Reason
On Means and Ends
On External Goods
On the Good Life
On Three Kinds of Life
On Virtue as Habit
On The Golden Mean
On Morality and Choice
On Two Moral Faults
On Six Character-Styles
On Five Kinds of Intelligence
On Two Minor Intellectual Virtues
On Moral Induction and Moral Deduction
(More) On First Moral Principles
On Slaves and Friends
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
6. Understanding Moral Theory: Thomas Aquinas
Introduction
On Religion and Morality: The Euthyphro Problem
On Virtue: Theological and Cardinal
On the Cardinal Virtues
On the Definition of Law
On the Four Kinds of Law
Of the Principle of Double Effect
On the Internal and External Structure of Voluntary Action
On the Three Moral Criteria of a Good Action
A Thomistic Account of Ignorance
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
7. The Contractarians: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Karl Marx
Introduction
Ancient Contractarianism: The Anonymous Iamblichi
Thomas Hobbes and the Beginnings of Modern Contractarianism
John Locke: Two-Tiered Contactarianism
Jean-Jacques Rousseau and The State of Nature
Karl Marx: Rousseau's Legacy
On Hypothetical Agreement
On Contractarian Virtue
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Futher Reading
8. Kant: Duty and Moral Law
Introduction
Kant and the Enlightenment
On Reformation Theology
On Duty
Morality Derives from Pure, A Priori Reason
On Happiness
On Good Will
On Imperatives: Categorical and Hypothetical
The Categorical Imperative: Five Universal Formulations
On Autonomy
Criticisms of Kant's Deontological Approach
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
9. Utilitarianism and Liberalism: Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
Introduction
Jeremy Bentham: Utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill: Moral and Political Philosophy
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
10. Contemporary Moral Theory
Anti-Theory: A Paradigm Shift in Ethics
Kierkegaard's Transcendental Subjectivism: Becoming Yourself
Personalism: Persons as the Most Fundamental Moral Reality
A Feminist Ethics of Care: Nel Noddings
Human Rights: Looking at Duty Backwards, Punishment
Divine Command Morality
Ecumenical Global Ethics: Agreements between Religions
Environmental Ethics: Beyond Deep Ecology
Contemporary Contractarianism: Rational Agreement
Epilogue
Questions for Study and Review
Suggestions for Further Reading
Glossary
Notes
Index

Student companion website:
Hundreds of additional 'Applied Philosophy' boxes highlighting the intersection of morality with real-life issues.
Hundreds of discussion questions.

Louis Groarke is Associate Professor at St Francis Xavier University, where he teaches Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Aesthetics, and the Philosophy of Human Nature. He has published papers in journals such as Humanities, The Journal of Value Inquiry, The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, and The American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. His other publications include The Good Rebel: Understanding Freedom and Morality (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2002), An Aristotelian Account of Induction: Creating Something From Nothing (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2010), and co-edited with Jonathan Lavery, Literary Form, Argumentative Content and Philosophical Genre (Fairleigh Dickinson, 2010). He was recently an associate of the Northrop Frye Centre at Victoria University at the University of Toronto.

Writing Philosophy - Lewis Vaughn and Jillian Scott McIntosh
Ethics - Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Peter Markie
The Ethical Life - Russ Shafer-Landau
What's Wrong? Applied Ethicists and Their Critics - David Boonin and Graham Oddie
Why Be Good? - Duncan Richter
The Moral Domain - Norman Lillegard
A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox - Anthony Weston

Special Features

  • Historical foundation. A historical focus provides students with a solid foundation to the moral analytical tradition.
  • Encourages critical thinking. Improves critical skills in moral analysis by offering classical texts and theories as starting points for discussion.
  • Balance of primary and secondary sources. Primary philosophical works are supported by secondary sources that offer clear explanations of classic ideas.
  • Issues-based. A diverse set of controversial issues encourages students to think critically about each side of an argument.
  • Classic and contemporary coverage. Focuses on the ethical tradition while also engaging readers in contemporary moral issues such as global and environmental ethics.
  • Accessible. Written in a lively, student-friendly style, making complex subject matter easier to understand.
  • Comprehensive. In-depth, rigorous treatment of various moral issues will inspire students while also challenging their way of thinking.
  • Expert philosophical insight. Written by an experienced scholar in the field, this is an authoritative introduction to ethics.
  • 'Applied Philosophy' boxes. Pertinent, probing, or puzzling real-world examples encourage students to apply key concepts to contemporary contexts.
  • Student-friendly pedagogy. Chapter objectives, figures, study and review questions, lists of further resources, and an end-of-text glossary help students understand the material.