An Introduction to Bioethics (Third Edition) [Paperback]

Thomas A. Shannon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0809136945 | ISBN-13: 978-0809136940 | Edition: 3 Rev Sub

A readable primer about the major bioethics issues of our time with helpful discussion questions and current bibliographical suggestions for further reading.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent resource for classrooms, discussion groups, or pastoral teams. -- Church

It addresses many of the major issues in this field and does so in a very simple and readable manner. -- Faith and Mission

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press; 3 Rev Sub edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809136945
• ISBN-13: 978-0809136940
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Philosophically shallow and poorly written, June 15, 2001

By 

C. J. Fraser "cjfraser" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Bioethics (Third Edition) (Paperback)

The table of contents looked good, so I ordered this book in the hope it could be used as an inexpensive introductory text for freshman courses on applied ethics. Big disappointment: The prose is trite and awkward, and the discussion barely gets into any of the interesting philosophical arguments that I want to discuss with my students.

As an example of the abysmal quality of the discussion, consider the author's criticism of consequentialism: "The major problem of this theory is that the theory itself provides no standard by which one would measure one outcome against another. That is, while being sensitive to the circumstances, consequentialism has no basis for evaluating one outcome against another" (p. 22).

If you're looking for a textbook on bioethics, try Beauchamp and Childress's Principles or the relevant sections of a decent applied ethics textbook, such as J. Olen and V. Barry, Applying Ethics, or B. MacKinnon, Ethics. Another good choice is J. Teichman, Social Ethics. As to anthologies of readings, try Beauchamp and Walters's Contemporary Issues or Kuhse and Singer's Bioethics.