Synopses & Reviews
The most important moral philosophers of the Western tradition all in one place! Chronologically organized to illuminate each writer's role in the history of ethics, the book's comprehensive coverage fosters a firm grasp of ideas in the history of Western moral philosophy, as well as contemporary moral philosophy. Selections from the contemporary period are designed to highlight the continuity between the history of moral philosophy and contemporary moral theory. The collection includes an introduction to ethical theory, introductions to each of the major historical periods, brief introductions to each selection, and new study tools to help focus your reading.
Synopsis
The most important philosophers all in one place! ETHICS: SELECTIONS FROM CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY WRITERS takes you from the beginning of philosophy to today, all the while explaining everything in easy to follow language. From Plato to John Rawls, it's all here. And because it's packed with study tools, you'll not only get a basic familiarity with Western ethical philosophy, you'll be set up for a great grade in class as well.
About the Author
The late Dr. Oliver A. Johnson studied at Oxford University in England, and received his doctorate in philosophy from Yale University. He was one of the founding faculty members of University of California at Riverside, and was chairman of the philosophy department. He served as the Academic Senate Chairman and secretary-treasurer of the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division. He is known for his writings on ethics and the foundations of knowledge.Andrews Reath has written extensively on many aspects of Kant's ethics. He has also edited (with Barbara Herman and Christine M. Korsgaard) RECLAIMING THE HISTORY OF ETHICS: ESSAYS FOR JOHN RAWLS (Cambridge University Press, 1997).
Table of Contents
Part I: THE CLASSICAL AND MEDIEVAL ERAS. 1. Socrates: Euthyphro. 2. Plato: Republic. 3. Aristotle: The Nicomachean Ethics. 4. Epicurus: Epicurus to Menoeceus. 5. Epictetus: The Enchiridion. 6. St. Augustine: Of the Morals of the Catholic Church, The Enchiridion. 7. St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Contra Gentiles, Summa Theologica. Part II: THE MODERN WORLD. 8. Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan. 9. Joseph Butler: Sermons. 10. David Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature. 11. Immanuel Kant: Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals. 12. Jeremy Bentham: An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. 13. John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism. 14. Friedrich Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil. Part III: THE CONTEMPORARY ERA. 15. W.D. Ross: The Right and the Good. 16. A.J. Ayer: Language, Truth and Logic. 17. Jean-Paul Sartre: Existentialism. 18. Bernard Williams: Relativism. 19. John Rawls: A Theory of Justice. 20. R.M. Hare: A Utilitarian Approach to Ethics, Moral Thinking. 21. T.M.Scanlon: Contractualism and Utilitarianism. 22. Thomas Nagel: The View From Nowhere. 23. Gilbert Harman: Is There a Single True Morality? 24. Phillipa Foot: Does Subjectivism Rest on a Mistake? 25. Christine M. Korsgaard: The Authority of Reflection. 26. Philip Quinn: God and Morality. 27. Annette C. Baier: The Need for More than Justice.