Introducing Ethics [Paperback]

Dave Robinson (Author), Chris Garratt (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000 | Series: Introducing

Ethics has become the burning issue of current moral philosophical thought, raising the spectre of responsibility at a time when responsibility seems entirely replaced by uncertainty and relativism. What is the place of individual choice and consequence in a post-Holocaust world of continuing genocidal ethnic cleansing? Is 'identity' now a last-ditch cultural defence of ethic nationalisms and competing fundamentalisms? In a climate of instant information, free markets and possible ecological disaster, how do we define 'rights', self-interest and civic duties? What are the acceptable limits of scientific investigation and genetic engineering, the rights and wrongs of animal rights, euthanasia and civil disobedience? This book confronts these dilemmas, tracing the arguments of the great moral thinkers, including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes and Kant, and brings us up to date with postmodern critics.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book series is part of an alarming trend in higher education?learning through amusement?and an even more alarming new genre?intellectual comic books trafficking as serious learning tools. It is to philosophy what the Classic Comic is to literature and the campaign ad to politics: Cliff Notes meet the sound bite. Short on text and long on large cartoons?emotivism gets 13 lines and four dialog balloons; the Theory of Forms seven lines and two balloons?the texts badly introduce individual thinkers or areas of thought. The sound bite is empty enough when presenting facts, but as a way to get across concepts, positions and arguments, it is self-defeating. These works necessarily emphasize what the thinker thinks, presented informationally, not why or how those conclusions were reached. Thus, even when the texts aren't superficial, the thinkers' claims are utterly obscure. The art work is high quality and witty, and the agenda clearly postmodern?Kant is read as a protodeconstructionist, the universalist enterprise of ethics gets mocked. Thus, their best audience is the opposite of the one intended: not the beginner but the advanced reader of philosophy who can appreciate the fun. At their best, these works belong in Father Guido Sarducci's "Five-Minute College," in which for each course he gives a slogan. At their worst, these books will change remembering a slogan to remembering a picture. Not recommended.?Lee Horvitz, Miami Univ., Middletown, Ohio
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"'Introducing is a miracle of modern publishing... buy one now.' Don Patterson, Guardian" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Totem Books; Third Edition edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840465808
• ISBN-13: 978-1840465808
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,303,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Ethics, April 8, 2000

By 

Travis Pagan (Bradenton, Florida (U.S.)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introducing Ethics (Paperback)

This book is aptly titled, as it introduces ethics and provides a broad overview of the history of ethics and philosophy. It presents the varied views held by many different philosophers and groups (examples: Plato, Utilitarians). It is not a words-only book. On most every page there is an illustration with speech balloons containing further informative text coming from the illustrated characters. It seems to be used in a sort of comical, humorous way. In this way it is informative seriously and light-heartedly at the same time. The illustrations make for easier reading, though there are some high-level vocabulary words in the text. Everything considered, I would recommend this as a first book for those interested in ethics.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Approachable intro to Ethics., July 25, 2003

By 

Matthew Turner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introducing Ethics (Paperback)

I found this book while perusing the shelves of a local bookstore, sat down, and read half of it before getting up again. Philosophy, and ethics especially, can be a subject that's hard to get into and even harder to conceptualize, but with the laid-back manner with which the authors write, and with the cartoons to soften the subject matter, it was a good stepping off point for my own wandering in the world of ethics. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars simply because I don't think the authors go far enough in explaining the differences between major branches of ethics, but seeing as this is more of a pop-ethics book than a scholarly one anyway, I'd say it's a pretty good intro.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read & FUN!, May 26, 2009

By 

Karen L. Jett, CMA "Author, Grow Your People,... (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introducing Ethics: A Graphic Guide (Paperback)

Introducing Ethics does exactly that. It gives a great overview of the philosophical basis of ethics that is very accessible, easy to read, and FUN! (When's the last time you saw ethics and fun used in the same sentence?)
This book interweaves text with 'comics' that illustrate key points. As someone who creates ethics trainings and regularly trains people on business ethics I appreciate how well the author explains conflicting beliefs in ethical theory.
While this book only covers ethics on a surface level, it provides a list of other books available if you are interested in learning more.
Karen L. Jett, CMA - Author of Grow Your People, Grow Your Business