20 Best Books On Ethics (2023 Update)

In ethics: the essential writings, philosopher gordon marino skillfully presents an accessible, provocative anthology of both ancient and modern classics on matters moral. the philosophers represent 2,500 years of thought—from plato, kant, and nietzsche to alasdair macintyre, susan wolf, and peter singer—and cover a broad range of topics, from the timeless questions of justice, morality, and faith to the hot-button concerns of today, such as animal rights, our duties to the environment, and gender issues. featuring an illuminating preamble, concise introductory essays on the giants of ethical theory, and incisive chapter headnotes to the modern offerings, this modern library edition is a perfect single-volume reference for students, teachers, and anyone eager to engage in reflection on ethical questions, including “what is the basis for our ethical views and judgments?” gordon marino is professor of philosophy and director of the hong kierkegaard library at st. olaf college in northfield, minnesota. a recipient of the richard j. davis ethics award for excellence in writing on ethics and the law, he is the author of kierkegaard in the present age, co-editor of the cambridge companion to kierkegaard, and editor of the modern library’s basic writings of existentialism. his essays have appeared in the new york times.

Accessible, fascinating, and thought-provoking, this is the groundbreaking story of the global search for moral truthsin this remarkable book, kenan malik explores the history of moral thought as it has developed over three millennia, from homer’s greece to mao’s china, from ancient india to modern america. it tells the stories of the great philosophers, and breathes life into their ideas, while also challenging many of our most cherished moral beliefs.engaging and provocative, the quest for a moral compass confronts some of humanity’s deepest questions. where do values come from? is god necessary for moral guidance? are there absolute moral truths? it also brings morality down to earth, showing how, throughout history, social needs and political desires have shaped moral thinking. it is a history of the world told through the history of moral thought, and a history of moral thought that casts new light on global history.

The nicomachean ethics is one of aristotle’s most widely read and influential works. drawing on their intimate knowledge of aristotle’s thought, robert c. collins have produced here an english-language translation of the ethics that is as remarkably faithful to the original as it is graceful in its rendering. aristotle is well known for the precision with which he chooses his words, and in this elegant translation his work has found its ideal match. bartlett and collins provide copious notes and a glossary providing context and further explanation for students, as well as an introduction and a substantial interpretive essay that sketch central arguments of the work and the seminal place of aristotle’s ethics in his political philosophy as a whole. the nicomachean ethics has engaged the serious interest of readers across centuries and civilizations—of peoples ancient, medieval, and modern; pagan, christian, muslim, and jewish—and this new edition will take its place as the standard english-language translation.

Ethics is book number 6 in the works. from one of the most important theologians of the twentieth century, ethics is the seminal reinterpretation of the role of christianity in the modern, secularized world. the christian does not live in a vacuum, says the author, but in a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage. hence, christian ethics cannot exist in a vacuum; what the christian needs, claims dietrich bonhoeffer, is concrete instruction in a concrete situation. although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to christian ethics. the root and ground of christian ethics, the author says, is the reality of god as revealed in jesus christ. this reality is not manifest in the church as distinct from the secular world; such a juxtaposition of two separate spheres, bonhoeffer insists, is a denial of god's having reconciled the whole world to himself in christ. on the contrary, god's commandment is to be found and known in the church, the family, labor, and government. his commandment permits man to live as man before god, in a world god made, with responsibility for the institutions of that world.

This is not a typical ethics textbook. most ethics textbooks are anthologies of articles by contemporary philosophers, or a whole book by one contemporary philosopher, about ethical puzzles to be solved by logical analysis. this is good mental exercise but it will not change your life, and you will not remember it ten years from now. you will not remember a hundred bright little ideas, you will remember only a few big ideas, the ones that changed your life. this book is about 52 of them.. and it is by 32 great philosophers. they are all dead. (philosophers die, but philosophy does not; it buries all its undertakers.) why apprentice yourself to second rate scribblers like me when you can apprentice yourself to the greatest minds in history? why not learn from socrates, buddha, confucius, plato, aristotle, kant, kierkegaard, and nietzsche? why prefer little minds to big ones? they disagree with each other, to be sure, but all of them will help you, not least those who contradict you and challenge you, and stretch you by forcing you to reply to them, and fight with them. i am appalled by the fact that 90% of the best philosophy students at the best universities, which say they cultivate "diversity," have exactly the same politically correct opinions, whether of the left or the right. when you were a child your mother probably reminded you before you went out not to forget something like your lunch box or your umbrella. ethics today is usually treated that way: as an afterthought: check with an ethicist before doing the really important things like business or law or medicine or diplomacy. but ethics is not a p.s. to life. it is about the most fundamental things in life: values, good and evil. socrates said that a good person does not worry much about little things like whether he lives or dies, but only about big things like whether he is a good person or a bad one.

The ethical life: fundamental readings in ethics and moral problems, second edition, is ideal for courses in introductory ethics and contemporary moral problems. featuring forty readings divided into four parts. the good life, normative ethics, metaethics, and moral problems-it introduces students to ethical theory and a wide range of moral issues. the essays include selections from such historically influential philosophers as aristotle, hume, kant and mill alongside work by contemporary philosophers like philippa foot, robert nozick, peter singer, and judith jarvis thomson. detailed reading introductions provide helpful contextual information. the text is supplemented by an online instructor's manual and computerized test bank and a companion website with student self-quizzes and additional resources.

Ideal for introductory ethics or contemporary moral issues courses, college ethics: a reader on moral issues that affect you, second edition, is a collection of brief, engaging, and accessible readings on issues that directly affect–and matter to–today's college students.

The author russ shafer-landau employs a uniquely engaging writing style to introduce students to the essential ideas of moral philosophy. offering more comprehensive coverage of the good life, normative ethics, and meta ethics than any other text of its kind. this book also addresses issues that are often omitted from other texts, such as the doctrine of doing and allowing, the doctrine of double effect, ethical particularism, the desire-satisfaction theory of well-being, and moral error theory. shafer-landau carefully reconstructs and analyzes dozens of arguments in depth, at a level that is understandable to students with no prior philosophical background. the text is supplemented by an online instructor's manual and computerized test bank and a companion website with student self-quizzes and additional resources. ideal for courses in introductory ethics and contemporary moral problems, this book can be used as a stand-alone text or with the author's companion reader, the ethical life: fundamental readings in ethics and moral problems, third edition. paperback. oxford university press.

With its unique union of theory and application and its well-organized, easy-to-use design, moral choices has earned its place as the standard text for college ethics courses. – moral choices outlines the distinctive elements of christian ethics while avoiding undue dogmatism. the book also introduces other ethical systems and their key historical proponents, including plato, aristotle, augustine, thomas aquinas, and immanuel kant. – after describing a seven-step procedure for tackling ethical dilemmas, author scott rae uses case studies to address some of today's most pressing social issues. he guides students in thinking critically and biblically about issues, including: abortion – reproductive technologieseuthanasiacapital punishment – sexual ethics – the morality of war – genetic technologies and human cloning – ethics and economics – new: creation care – new: animal rights – new: gun-control – new: race, gender, and diversity – new: immigration, refugees, and border control – featuresrelevant case studies throughout – discussion questions at the end of each chapter – sidebars with case studies for discussion – recommended further reading

Living ethics: an introduction with readings is an ideal all-in-one resource for courses in introduction to ethics and contemporary moral problems. in this hybrid textbook/reader, russ shafer-landau brings moral theory and contemporary moral issues to life with a comprehensive and balanced setof readings, uniquely engaging explanations, and clear analysis of arguments. the book balances coverage of moral reasoning (in part 1) with highly relevant contemporary moral problems (in part 2).

An exceptionally clear, compact, and affordable introduction to a broad range of ethical theories – in the fundamentals of ethics, fifth edition, author russ shafer-landau employs a uniquely engaging writing style to introduce students to the essential ideas of moral philosophy. offering more comprehensive coverage of the good life, normative ethics, and metaethics than any other text of its kind, this book also addresses issues that are often omitted from other texts, such as the doctrine of doing and allowing, the doctrine of double effect, ethical particularism, the desire-satisfaction theory of well-being, moral error theory, and ross's theory of prima facie duties. shafer-landau carefully reconstructs and analyzes dozens of arguments in depth, at a level that is understandable to students with no prior philosophical background. – new to this editionsubstantial improvements to many sections, including "happiness and intrinsic value" in chapter 1; all three sections in chapter 5; "natural purposes" in chapter 6; and "rule consequentialism" in chapter 10. nearly thirty cases for critical reflection, designed to stimulate further thought about the theories discussed in parts 1 (the good life) and 2 (normative ethics)chapter 12 now includes a separate discussion of the problem of free will – a new chapter 22, is moral knowledge possible? five skeptical arguments, introduces moral skepticism this title is available as an ebook. visit vital

An engaging, thought-provoking, illustrated analysis of the classical principles of ethics applied to everyday dilemmas.ethics: the art of character is the quintessential little book of big ideas. it draws on the work of aristotle, socrates, plato–and on the words of dante, spinoza, kant, martin seligman, mihaly csikszentmihalyi, martin luther king, jr., and chuang tzu. ethicist gregory beabout describes aristotle's lectures as aimed, not at the young, but at listeners "experienced in life . . . with a desire to pursue the common good and in possession of a sense of what it is to live a beautiful, meaningful life." this wise little book contemplates the quest for courage, justice, temperance, wisdom, empathy, humility, and much more–timeless goals that also remain timely. a chapter on "ethics in real life" invites the reader to explore two contemporary dilemmas and puzzle out the ethical choices when the situations "present a clear choice whether or not to do something that appears wrong, in order to avert an apparently greater evil." featuring chapters on medical ethics, workplace ethics, and environmental ethics, ethics: the art of character distills the wisdom of the ages into a sixty-four-page, unforgettable life lesson.

Business ethics: the big picture asks students to focus on the assumptions underlying the activity of business. why does society provide special protections for businesses? what is the purpose of a corporation? what do businesses owe society? and are there some things that shouldn’t be distributed by the free market? these questions are addressed through classic readings from such central figures as adam smith and karl marx, in addition to contemporary selections from milton friedman, r. edward freeman, debra satz, and others. a number of compelling real-world case studies are also included.

Ethics: essential readings in moral theory is an outstanding anthology of the most important topics, theories and debates in ethics, compiled by one of the leading experts in the field. it includes sixty-six extracts covering the central domains of ethics: why be moral? the meaning of moral language morality and objectivity consequentialism deontology virtue and character value and well-being moral psychology applications: including abortion, famine relief and consent. included are both classical extracts from plato, aristotle, hume, kant and mill, as well as contemporary classics from philosophers such as thomas nagel, thomas scanlon, martha nussbaum, derek parfit, and peter singer. a key feature of the anthology is that it covers the perennial topics in ethics as well as very recent ones, such as moral psychology, responsibility and experimental philosophy. each section is introduced and placed in context by the editor, making this an ideal anthology for anyone studying ethics or ethical theory.

A comprehensive, innovative, and authoritative view of moral inquiry engaged with the resources of the world’s religions encompassing three comprehensive volumes, the encyclopedia of religious ethics introduces fundamental issues in moral inquiry, explores the world’s major moral traditions, and surveys specific moral issues across a wide range of human experiences. this landmark work defines the meaning, task, and various forms of religious ethics to guide readers through critical inquiry of religious and moral life across historical periods, geography, and cultural traditions. the encyclopedia features contributions by an extraordinary panel of ethicists, historians, theologians, philosophers, political theorists, and other experts that draw from and revise religious sources to explore basic themes in moral theory and address contemporary ethical and political problems. each volume is devoted to a particular element of religious ethics. volume i – moral inquiry helps readers understand diverse religious and moral traditions, the social practices and institutions used for their transmission, and the methods and approaches used for their comparison. volume ii – moral tradition describes the established historical traditions of judaism, christianity, islam, buddhism, indian religions, chinese religions, african religions, and religions of the americas. volume iii – moral issues provides the conceptual resources for understanding the structures, conditions, and challenges of a wide range of moral issues that religious ethicists have engaged, and for appreciating the contributions of different scholars in the field. unique in its topical depth and scope, the encyclopedia of religious ethics: provides diverse historical, contemporary, theoretical, and cultural perspectives on numerous religious and moral traditions represents the richness of thought of a vast range of renowned scholars from various disciplines, traditions, and cultures examines some of the most significant theories, approaches, and concepts that have been used to compare traditions of religious ethics discusses recent developments in religious and moral life and new approaches to the study of religious ethics introduces practices in current religious communities that address the various dimensions of the moral life dedicated to understanding and addressing moral challenges and possibilities in our global times, the encyclopedia of religious ethics is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the relation between religion and ethics in the modern world, including those involved in general and comparative religious studies, religious and comparative ethics, and moral theory.

Internationally renowned philosopher peter singer presents a challenging new movement in the search for an ethical life, one that has emerged from his work on some of the world's most pressing problems. effective altruism requires a rigorously unsentimental view of charitable giving: a substantial proportion of our money, and time, should be donated to the organisations that will do the most good with those resources, rather than those that tug the heartstrings. singer introduces us to an array of remarkable people who are restructuring their lives in accordance with these ideas, and shows how, paradoxically, effective altruism often leads to profound personal fulfilment.

Internationally renowned philosopher peter singer presents a challenging new movement in the search for an ethical life, one that has emerged from his work on some of the world's most pressing problems. effective altruism requires a rigorously unsentimental view of charitable giving: a substantial proportion of our money, and time, should be donated to the organisations that will do the most good with those resources, rather than those that tug the heartstrings. singer introduces us to an array of remarkable people who are restructuring their lives in accordance with these ideas, and shows how, paradoxically, effective altruism often leads to profound personal fulfilment.

Now in its seventh edition, the moral of the story continues to bring understanding to difficult concepts in moral philosophy through storytelling and story analysis. students will study ethical relativism by examining the film avatar, explore utilitarianism through the invention of lying, and discuss kant’s deontology by examining woody allen’s match point. they will consider virtue ethics by juxtaposing plato’s “myth of the cave” with the themes in the truman show. rosenstand’s work is lively and relatable, and students will enjoy discussing examples from contemporary film, fiction narratives, and even popular comic strips.instructors and students can now access their course content through the connect digital learning platform by purchasing either standalone connect access or a bundle of print and connect access. mcgraw-hill connect is a subscription-based learning service accessible online through your personal computer or tablet. choose this option if your instructor will require connect to be used in the course. your subscription to connect includes the following: – smartbook – an adaptive digital version of the course textbook that personalizes your reading experience based on how well you are learning the content. – access to your instructor’s homework assignments, quizzes, syllabus, notes, reminders, and other important files for the course. – progress dashboards that quickly show how you are performing on your assignments and tips for improvement.

A unique structured approach to solving ethical issues that arise in daily clinical practice a doody's core title for 2011! clinical ethics teaches the widely-known four-topics method to help you make the right choice when facing complex ethical questions and dilemmas encountered during everyday patient care. you will learn an easy-to-apply system based on simple questions about medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features that clearly explain clinical ethics and helps you formulate a sound diagnosis and treatment strategy. goes beyond theory to offer a solid decision-making strategy applicable to real-world practice numerous clinical case examples link principles to everyday practice–many new to this edition practical coverage of important legal issues ethical considerations in palliative care, medically assisted death, clinical research, and other timely issues perfect for students, trainees, clinicians, ethics committee members, nurses, and patients handy four-topics chart pullout card the content you need to make the right choice: introduction; medical intervention; patient preferences; quality of life; contextual features.

A unique structured approach to solving ethical issues that arise in daily clinical practice a doody's core title for 2011! clinical ethics teaches the widely-known four-topics method to help you make the right choice when facing complex ethical questions and dilemmas encountered during everyday patient care. you will learn an easy-to-apply system based on simple questions about medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features that clearly explain clinical ethics and helps you formulate a sound diagnosis and treatment strategy. goes beyond theory to offer a solid decision-making strategy applicable to real-world practice numerous clinical case examples link principles to everyday practice–many new to this edition practical coverage of important legal issues ethical considerations in palliative care, medically assisted death, clinical research, and other timely issues perfect for students, trainees, clinicians, ethics committee members, nurses, and patients handy four-topics chart pullout card the content you need to make the right choice: introduction; medical intervention; patient preferences; quality of life; contextual features.