Ethical Perspectives

Note: All chapters include:
- Learning Objectives
- Key Terms
- Guiding Questions & Reflection Statements
- Chapter Summary
- Discussion Questions
- Further Resources
- Notes
1. Why Should I Be Ethical?
Introduction
- Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Approach
- Ethics and Morals
- Descriptive and Prescriptive Ethics
Human Nature and Our Moral Code
- Perspectives on Human Nature
External Forces that Shape Our Ethics
- Stanford Prison Experiment
Egoism
- Psychological Egoism
- Ethical Egoism
- Altruism and Sacrifice
What Makes Life Meaningful?
2. Developing Reasonable Arguments
Introduction
- Barriers and Bad Habits
- Parts of an Argument: Premises and Conclusions
- Acceptability, Relevance, and Sufficiency
Inductive and Deductive Arguments
- Deductive Forms
- Inductive Forms
- Some Common Forms of Poor Reasoning
3. Subjectivism, Relativism, and Absolutism
Introduction
Defining Culture
- Applying Ethics to Culture
Subjectivism: Who's Right, Who's Wrong? Who Decides?
Relativism: Strengths and Weaknesses
- Relativism and Moral Progress
- Tolerance or Justice?
Absolutism
- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Anything Goes?
- Multiculturalism
4. Religion, Tradition, and Ethics
Introduction
Religion in Canada: What Does It Look Like?
- Spirituality
Divine Command Theory
Buddhist Ethics
Gandhi and Truth-Force (Satyagraha)
5. Kantian Ethics
Introduction
Duty Ethics: Core Concepts
- The Enlightment
- Autonomy
- Reason
- Moral Absolutes
Universalizing Actions
- Categorical Imperative
- Ends and Means
The Kingdom of Ends
6. Utilitarianism
Introduction
Jeremy Bentham: Philosopher of Pain and Pleasure
- The Hedonic Calculus
- The Panopticon: Bentham's Theory Applied to Social Reform
John Stuart Mill
- Utilitarianism Refined
- Mill's Utilitarianism Applied
Peter Singer and Preference Utilitarianism
- An Expanded World of Stakeholders
7. The Theory of Rights
Introduction
The Social Contract Tradition: Core Concepts
- Who Has Rights?
- When Do We Receive Rights?
- Who Gives Us Our Rights?
Some Important Thinkers in the Social Contract Tradition
- Thomas Hobbes: Freedom or Security?
- John Locke: Three Natural Rights
- John Rawls: Fairness or Equality?
8. Virtue Ethics
Introduction
Aristotle versus Plato
Teleology
The Life of Pleasure
Honour and Power
Eudemonia, Virtues, and Responsibility
The Golden Mean
Navigating the Virtues
A Categorical, Empirical Approach to Friendship
Criticisms of Virtue Ethics
9. Evolutionary Ethics
Introduction
Understanding Evolution
The Theory of Natural Selection
The Evolution of Species
The Human Being
Choice and Instinct
- Morality in the Animal Kingdom
- Monkeys, Bonobos, Chimps, Humans, and Other Mammals
Mirror Neurons, Sympathy, and Empathy
Criticisms of Evolutionary Ethics
10. Truth, Reconciliation, and Identity
Introduction
Indigenous Philosophy and Ways of Knowing
Colliding World Views: The 1969 "White Paper"
Canadian Colonialism and Identity Politics
- Canada's Colonial History
- The Politics of Identity
An Alternative Form of Justice: Restorative Justice
"Returning to Harmony" by Richard Wagamese
11. Structure and Freedom: Existentialism
Introduction
The Tool-Using Human
Taylorism and the Sin of Wasting Time
Lewis Mumford Issues a Warning
Purity and Cleansing
Fascism and the Holocaust
Obedience and the Banality of Evil
The Beginnings of Existentialism
Bad Faith and Angst
Existential Ethics
The Greater Existential Responsibility
12. Sex, Gender, and Race
Introduction
- Binary Sex and Complexity
Sex and Society
- The First Wave of Feminism - Fighting to Be Human
- The Second Wave - Dealing with the Social
- The Third Wave - No Grand Narratives
Gender and Morality
Race and Evolution
- The Historical Background of Racism
- Racism as a Bad Premise
Transhumanism
Glossary
Index

Instructor's Manual:
- Chapter overviews
- Key concepts/terms
- Class assignments and activities
- Answers to end-of-chapter questions
- Recommended YouTube clips
- Recommended news articles
Power Point Slides:
- All figures and tables from the text
Test Bank
For each chapter:
- 10 multiple choice questions
- 10 true-or-false questions
- 5 short answer questions
E-book ISBN 9780199019229

Jonathan Zeyl is a professor in the Liberal Studies department at Humber College, with graduate degrees in religious studies and philosophy. He teaches degree and diploma courses in the humanities.

Nathan Radke is a professor in the Liberal Studies department at Humber College, with degrees in philosophy and sociology. He specializes in conspiracy theory and critical thought, but has also published work on human freedom and existentialism.

Exploring Moral Problems - Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes
The Moral Life - Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn
Disputed Moral Issues - Mark Timmons
The Ethical Life - Russ Shafer-Landau
Principles of Moral Philosophy - Edited by Steven M. Cahn and Andrew T. Forcehimes
Exploring Ethics - Steven M. Cahn
Ethics in Canada - Edited by Karen Wendling
Ethical Choices - Richard Burnor and Yvonne Raley
A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox - Anthony Weston
The Fundamentals of Ethics - Russ Shafer-Landau
Moral Reasoning - Louis Groarke
Writing Philosophy - Lewis Vaughn and Jillian Scott McIntosh

Special Features

• Comprehensive coverage of theory provides students with a well-rounded understanding of topics - such as Kantian ethics, virtue ethics, existentialism, utilitarianism - and answers broader questions, such as why ethics matter and what makes a good critical thinker.
• Over 35 case studies, presented alongside easy-to-follow overviews of ethical theories, allow students to apply theory to real-world situations.
• Reflects contemporary Canadian society - including Canadian examples throughout and a chapter on Indigenous perspectives (Ch. 10) - providing students with a relevant introduction to ethical perspectives in this country.
• A chapter on developing sound arguments encourages critical thinking and teaches students how to make a rational argument, identify common fallacies, and recognize the barriers and bad habits that make it difficult to reason carefully and clearly. (Ch. 2)
• Helpful pedagogy - a wealth of learning tools throughout help students appreciate and understand key concepts.
• - Guiding Questions and Reflection Statements at the start of each chapter give students the opportunity to challenge opinions and consider ethical issues before delving into chapter content.
• - Discussion questions ask students to review and think critically about key arguments.
• - Learning objectives give students context for the chapter that follows.