Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues (Paperback)

~ Vincent Ruggiero (Author) "Ethics is the study of the choices people make regarding right and wrong..." (more)
Key Phrases: great ethicists, United States, New York, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This accessible supplementary text emphasizes the doing of philosophy rather than focusing on ethical theory or the history of ethics. With the aid of the text, students apply ethical principles to case studies that exemplify the kinds of moral issues that permeate their everyday lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 5 edition (August 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767415825
• ISBN-13: 978-0767415828
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #647,727 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging inquires, June 25, 2002

By	Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the first part of the book, Riggiero provides scenarios to dismiss ethics based on the majority view, relativism, feelings, conscience, and culture. This is counter to those who propose following your "gut", or "do what feels good". In the second part of the book, he offers a procedural ethics based on obligation, moral ideas, and consequences.

The real meat of the book are "inquiries"; examples of ethical problems for the reader to work. They also promote a vague uneasiness of how difficult some of these short scenarios are. The uneasiness is useful and caused me to think deeper about the dilemmas. Students who are used to memorization, or looking for a "correct answer" may be frustrated. This book is not about the history of ethics (and that chapter is perhaps too sparse), or ethical theory, but about the process of thinking. My own desire for more worked samples, may indicate my uneasiness and search for a crutch of a supplied answer. I would urge also each professional reader, to look at his own professional organization's code of ethics, in light of possible scenarios that may be encountered.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A splended, and marvelous book on ethics, February 3, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Upstate, New York) - See all my reviews

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

I thought this book was a very well written book on Ethics. I used it for my Ethics class in junior college, and it was so well written, and very concise. It discusses ethical issues, as well as teaches the reader how to make good ethical choices. It discusses in each chapter in depth how each process in the decision process should be made, and gives many dilemmas, and examples at the end of each chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Ethics

8 of 11 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.