This book provides readers with an excellent introduction to the history of ethics. The authors examine the ethical philosophies of prominent Western thinkers—from the ancients through the twentieth century—within the context of their views of human nature and human fulfillment. They do so in a way that is both accessible and engaging without sacrificing the profundity of the issues raised. A five-part organization covers the Homeric tradition, the Sophists, Plato, Aristotle, Christianity, Neoplatonism, Augustine, the Euthyphro problem, revolutions and reformations, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Mary Wollstonecraft, Hegelianism and Materialism, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, Soren Kierkegaard, Darwinism, Friedrich Nietzsche, G. E. Moore, A.J. Ayer, Jean-Paul Sartre, Elizabeth Anscombe, John Rawls, Alasdair MacIntyre, Carol Gilligan, Richard Rorty, and a conclusion about human nature, morality & fulfillment. For individuals who want to better formulate their own answers and frame their own decisions, both large and small, within the all important context of what it means to flourish as a human being.
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"Finally, a user-friendly history of moral philosophy. Clark and Poortenga have produced a thorough and accessible history written in a lively and engaging style. It will be especially welcomed as a textbook by those of us who find it impossible to introduce students to moral philosophy without introducing them to its history. It will also be useful to philosophical beginners looking for an introduction to the history of ethics or to the more advanced student looking for a review." -- David Solomon, H. P and W B. White Director, Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame "Clark and Poortenga's book has the advantage of not only being short enough but also of communicating to an undergraduate in a conversational style that is accessible without sacrificing the profundity of the issues it raises. It shows students how thinkers even as remote in time as Plato were asking questions that they-students-discover are their own questions: Is morality all relative? Why is just following the rules good enough? What kind of person do 1 want to become? What is the best way to live my life?" -- Rebecca Konyndyk De Young, Calvin College "Clark and Poortenga have constructed a helpful and interesting journey through the history of ethics from ancient times to the contemporary world. Their book is one that will enable students to draw upon a rich philosophical tradition in answering the questions that matter in their own lives." -- Gordon Graham, Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Aberdeen
From the Back Cover
This brief introduction to the history of ethics engages readers in a compelling, refreshing study of the question, "Why be moral?" Kelly James Clark and Anne Poortenga situate the study of ethics within the context of more fundamental questions: "What kind of persons are human beings?" and "What kind of life should we live to fulfill ourselves as persons?" Clark and Poortenga trace the philosophic history of how these questions have been answered, beginning with Plato and Aristotle and extending to contemporary thinkers, such as Carol Gilligan, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Richard Rorty.
Features of The Story of Ethics:- Engaging writing style
- Historical overviews of major ethical theories
- Focused attention on key ethical theorists, including Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume, Mill, and Nietzsche, among others
- Written as a coherent whole, which nevertheless can be broken into separate, easily assignable sections.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good historical approach for a short ethics course,
By W. Jamison "William S. Jamison" (Eagle River, Ak United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature (Paperback)
For college students that don't have much time for a lot of reading, this text offers a nice summary of the key philosophical views from the ancients to Rorty and Gilligan. It presents them in a no nonsense historical progression. Some short original paragraphs are included.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent historical survey of moral thought,
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This review is from: The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature (Paperback)
The authors have done a great job of tracing the theme of human fulfillment as they summarize and consider criticisms of some of the main ethical theories of the past 2000 or so years. An excellent and concise introductory book. Great for undergraduate courses, or as a review for more advanced students. Excellent book for the "garage philosopher" who wants to get a handle on the history of moral philosophy.
3.0 out of 5 stars
COLA requirement,
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This review is from: The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature (Paperback)
This book was for a required class that I otherwise would have avoided. Overall, it's not a bad book. I would have preferred a better subject index guide. Considering the subject, the authors did a good job. CHD
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