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Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, 8th Edition

Louis P. Pojman, James Fieser

  • Copyright 2017
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2016-01-01T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $77.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong 8th Edition by Louis P. Pojman/James Fieser
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Overview

ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG, 8E offers students an engaging and comprehensive overview of ethical theory. Written by one of contemporary philosophy's top teachers and revised by a best selling author, this textbook combines a conversational and non-dogmatic approach with strong supporting pedagogy. By even-handedly raising critical questions drawn from both classical and contemporary sources, this edition challenges students to develop their own moral theories and apply them to today's ethical problems. This revision also presents an even broader presentation of various positions, featuring more feminist and multicultural perspectives as well. ETHICS: DISCOVERING RIGHT AND WRONG, 8E begins with chapters orienting students to questions of meta-ethics and major moral theories. Later chapters address special topics in personal and religious ethics as well as the most recent developments in moral theory, including a new chapter on Biology and Ethics. Useful bibliographies and study questions for each chapter aid students in grasping the material and delving deeper into philosophy.

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Meet the Authors

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Louis P. Pojman

Louis P. Pojman (1935-2005) was Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, at the United States Military Academy and a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University. He received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University. He was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Copenhagen and a Rockefeller Fellow at Hamburg University. He received his D.Phil. in Philosophy from Oxford University in 1997.His first position was at the University of Notre Dame, after which he taught at the University of Texas at Dallas. Later, at the University of Mississippi, he served for three years as Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. In 1995, he became Professor of Philosophy at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He most recently was Visiting Professor at Brigham Young University in Utah and Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall, Oxford University. Pojman won several research and teaching awards, including the Burlington Northern Award for Outstanding Teaching and Scholarship (1988) and the Outstanding Scholar/Teacher in the Humanities at the University of Mississippi (1994). He wrote in the areas of philosophy of religion, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy and authored or edited more than 30 books and 100 articles. Louis Pojman passed away in 2005.

James Fieser

James Fieser is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He received his B.A. from Berea College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University. He is author, co-author, or editor of ten textbooks, including SOCRATES TO SARTRE AND BEYOND (9/e 2011), ETHICAL THEORY: CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY READINGS (6/e 2010), A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (2003), and MORAL PHILOSOPHY THROUGH THE AGES (2001). He has edited and annotated the ten-volume EARLY RESPONSES TO HUME (2/e 2005) and the five-volume SCOTTISH COMMON SENSE PHILOSOPHY (2000). He is founder and general editor of the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy website (http://www.iep.utm.edu).

What's New

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  • New "Biology and Ethics" chapter brings students up to speed on this cutting edge topic.

Features

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  • Balanced presentation: Written in a non-dogmatic style, this text generously presents various positions, yet even-handedly raises critical questions and fosters independent thinking.
  • Proven learning aids: Each chapter in this edition includes Study Questions and a useful Bibliography to assist students in review and further learning.
  • Tools to delve deeper: Reflection Questions and suggested readings in every chapter provide guides for further exploration of ethical topics.

Table of Contents

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1. WHAT IS ETHICS?
Ethics and Its Subdivisions. Morality as Compared with Other Normative Subjects. Traits of Moral Principles. Domains of Ethical Assessment. Conclusion.
2. ETHICAL RELATIVISM.
Subjective Ethical Relativism. Conventional Ethical Relativism. Criticisms of Conventional Ethical Relativism. Conclusion.
3. MORAL OBJECTIVISM.
Aquinas' Objectivism and Absolutism. Moderate Objectivism. Ethical Situationalism. Conclusion.
4. VALUE AND THE QUEST FOR THE GOOD.
Types of Values. Foundational Nature of Values. The Good Life. Conclusion.
5. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY AND THE MOTIVE TO BE MORAL.
Why Does Society Need Moral Rules? Why Should I Be Moral? Morality, Self-Interest, and Game Theory. The Motive to Always Be Moral. Conclusion.
6. EGOISM, SELF-INTEREST, AND ALTRUISM.
Psychological Egoism. Ethical Egoism. Arguments Against Ethical Egoism. Conclusion.
7. UTILITARIANISM.
Classic Utilitarianism. Act- and Rule-Utilitarianism. Criticism of Utilitarianism. Criticism of Ends Justifying Immoral Means. Conclusion.
8. KANT AND DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES.
Kant's Influences. The Categorical Imperative. Counterexamples to the Principle of the Law of Nature. Other Formulations of the Categorical Imperative. The Problem of Exceptionless Rules. Conclusion.
9. VIRTUE THEORY.
The Nature of Virtue Ethics. Criticisms of Action-Based Ethics. Connections Between Virtue-Based and Action-Based Ethics. Conclusion.
10. BIOLOGY AND ETHICS.
Moral Behavior in Animals. Morality and Human Evolution. What is Left for Traditional Morality? Conclusion.
11. GENDER AND ETHICS.
Classic Views. Female Care Ethics. Four Options Regarding Gender and Ethics. Conclusion.
12. RELIGION AND ETHICS.
Does Morality Depend on Religion? Is Religion Irrelevant or Even Contrary to Morality? Does Religion Enhance the Moral Life? Conclusion.
13. THE FACT-VALUE PROBLEM.
Hume and Moore: The Problem Classically Stated. Ayer and Emotivism. Hare and Prescriptivism. Naturalism and the Fact-Value Problem. Conclusion.
14. MORAL REALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF SKEPTICISM.
Mackie's Moral Skepticism. Harman's Moral Nihilism. A Defense of Moral Realism. Conclusion.
Appendix.
Glossary.
Index.

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This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

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  • ISBN-10: 1305584597
  • ISBN-13: 9781305584594
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  • ISBN-10: 0357698177
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR INSTRUCTORS

MindTap Philosophy, 1 term (6 months) Instant Access for Pojman/Fieser's Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong

ISBN: 9781305584594
MindTap Philosophy for Pojman/Fieser’s Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, 8th Edition is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course—to provide engaging content, to challenge every individual, and to build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. MindTap gives you complete ownership of your content and learning experience. Unique learning tools include ethics simulations, videos, suggested primary source readings from Questia, guided learning tutorials with an auto-graded homework solution, and discussion board prompts. Customize the interactive syllabi, emphasize the most important topics, and add your own material or notes in the eBook.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap Philosophy, 1 term (6 months) Instant Access for Pojman/Fieser's Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong

ISBN: 9781305584594
MindTap Philosophy for Pojman/Fieser’s Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, 8th Edition is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course—to provide engaging content, to challenge every individual, and to build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. MindTap gives you complete ownership of your content and learning experience. Unique learning tools include ethics simulations, videos, suggested primary source readings from Questia, guided learning tutorials with an auto-graded homework solution, and discussion board prompts. Customize the interactive syllabi, emphasize the most important topics, and add your own material or notes in the eBook.