The Moral of the Story: An Anthology of Ethics Through Literature [Paperback]

Peter Singer (Editor), Renata Singer (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405105844 | ISBN-13: 978-1405105842 | Publication Date: February 21, 2005 | Edition: 1

In The Moral of the Story, Peter and Renata Singer draw on some of the best works of fiction, playwriting, and poetry in order to shed light on the perennial questions of ethics.

A vivid montage of literature that touches on a broad range of ethical subjects and themes

Offers a unique contribution to the study of moral philosophy and literature

Demonstrates how literary sources can add richness to discussions of real-life moral questions and dilemmas

Brings together selections and excerpts from the world’s most celebrated short stories, novels, plays, and poetry

Features substantive section introductions by Peter and Renata Singer

Peter Singer is a leading moral philosopher, widely credited with triggering the modern animal-rights movement. His collection of essays, Unsanctifying Human Life, edited by Helga Kuhse, was published by Blackwell Publishing in 2001.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Shelley called poets ‘the unacknowledged legislators of the world.’ Peter and Renata Singer have made novelists and playwrights (and poets!), its acknowledged ethicists. An intriguing collection.” Randy Cohen, writer of “The Ethicist” for the New York Times Magazine

“This excellent, wide-ranging anthology reminds us that there is as much ethics in Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky as in Kant or Mill. Philosophy departments should leave around copies for students to dip into and be inspired by.” Jonathan Glover, King’s College London

“An essential and enriching anthology, selected with wisdom and care by Peter and Renata Singer…an invaluable light on the moral and ethical landscape.” Carol Rocamora, New York University

"The Moral of the Story is an extremely stimulating collection. Its examples are mostly drawn from classics, but there are enough idiosyncratic contemporary choices to give it a distinct flavour." James Ley, The Age

Book Description

It is widely held that great writers have something to say about the important ethical issues we face. By providing narrative context, literary sources can add a richness to the discussion of real-life moral questions and dilemmas that is sometimes lacking in more academic, philosophical writings. The Moral of the Story is a colorful montage of literature that touches on a broad range of ethical subjects and themes. This anthology brings together selections and excerpts from the world's most celebrated short stories, novels, plays, and poetry. A broad range of writers, from Shakespeare and Charles Dickens to Ursula Le Guin and Nick Hornby, are included. Featuring substantive section introductions by Peter and Renata Singer, the collection is a unique contribution to the study of moral philosophy and literature.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (February 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405105844
• ISBN-13: 978-1405105842
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unusual, provocative collection, January 5, 2007

By 

area d fm (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moral of the Story: An Anthology of Ethics Through Literature (Paperback)

This book is a refreshing departure from most Ethics textbooks. Singer and Singer have collected 79 readings--poems, short stories, and excerpts from novels--which they use as a way to get readers to think about interesting moral issues. The stories make the issues concrete, make them come to life, and are usually effective at drawing the reader into the situation. The book is divided into 15 sections. Each section has a three or four page introduction that gives a philosophical overview, then four or five readings for each section explore these issues in specific detail. The real strength of the book is the range of the readings. Highlights include: Invisible Man, Bonfire of the Vanities, The Soft-Hearted Sioux, The Model, Mrs Warren's Profession, Enduring Love, How to be Good, The Undesirable Table, The Limits of Trooghaft, Robinson Crusoe, Huckleberry Finn, The Third Man, This Way for the Gas, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, The Remains of the Day, To Kill a Mockingbird, Brave New World, and The Princess Casamassima. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected treasure, January 9, 2010

By 

Robert Zuch "The Pomeranian" (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Moral of the Story: An Anthology of Ethics Through Literature (Paperback)

For a beginner in the study of ethics like myself this was a superb alternative to a dry textbook. I was surprised to find excerpts from books that I have already read and liked ("The Good German" by Joseph Kannon being such example), and see notes by Singer & Singer as to why the issue was chosen and what questions were posed. The fact that Peter Singer, an avowed utilitarianist, included a short story by Ursula LeGuin ("The Ones who walk away from Omelas")which could be seen as contrasting the "greater good to all achieved at the expense of harm to one" with "absolute rights of one and of all", was not lost on me. Much recommended.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good way to find books you want to read by previewing them, June 6, 2009

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Nicole Gunn "ngunn" (new hampshire) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Moral of the Story: An Anthology of Ethics Through Literature (Paperback)

This book was for a class in college and I ended up really liking it. It is a bunch of short stories and parts of books so it was a good way to find some more books that I would like to read in the future. It was also very interesting. I would definently recommend it.