Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues [Paperback]

Vincent Ruggiero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2003 | ISBN-10: 007283188X | ISBN-13: 978-0072831887 | Edition: 6

This concise accessible text emphasizes doing ethical analysis, rather than focusing on ethical theory or the history of ethics. Ruggiero's readers are invited to apply ethical principles to issues that exemplify the kinds of moral challenges encountered in everyday life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 6 edition (August 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007283188X
• ISBN-13: 978-0072831887
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #685,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend, August 17, 2010

By 

Influence52 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues (Paperback)

I've used this textbook as a supplement or secondary text for teaching ethics at a community college. It has been a godsend for bringing application and discussion into the classroom. It is important to introduce students to the history of ethics and Meta-ethical theory, but it is more important to reveal weaknesses in the application of these theories and help students develop a critical method for making good ethical decisions. It is this later emphasis that makes this little book stand out. The author has done an excellent job of simplifying the categories of Ethics, but even a better job of putting together ethical dilemmas (Inquiries)for applying critical thinking. I'll be using this text again. Although a great book in the secular classroom,this text would be good to use in a Christian School as a supplement to the Bible in teaching Biblical or Christian Ethics. [...]

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars leaves much to be desired, but good for beginners., October 17, 2005

By 

Democritus (Tacoma, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues (Paperback)

A quick run-down for the lazy:

- The overview of philosophical thinkers is absurdly short.

- The history of ethics is also woefully abrubt.

+ it's fairly easy to read.

- lacks depth of analysis, contains strawman argument, circular logic, and other logical flaws.

- author insists on existance absolutes

- author frequently mixes up the meanings of ethics and morality.

Ruggiero focuses on pro-western attitudes, Christians, and christian apologists in the formation of his theories. He quotes studies out of context and uses rediculous extremes to underline 'grey areas' of argument. Often times the 'challenges' or questions in his text are flatly one sided or all too easy to answer.

I view this as a high school level text, wholly inadequate for college use, and decidedly biased.

Nevertheless, it's a good starting point for someone young and curious about ethics. I don't think it ever hurts to consider viewpoints, even faulty ones. Though I agree with much of the thrust of ethical position/slant of the text, I bridle at the abuse of logic and the strained conclusions.

Always be on the lookout for strawman argument, argument by anecdote, and appeal to emotions. These are huge logical flaws which destroy any argument no matter how well intended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Promises Kept, June 27, 2010

By 

inannaofsumer - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues (Paperback)

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