Ebook: Introduction to Applied Ethics

Few people make moral judgments by taking the theory first and then applying it to practical moral problems. This ethics textbook, purpose built for undergraduates, with their interests, needs, and experience in mind, proceeds in the way we first begin thinking ethically that is, by encountering practical moral problems and then introducing theory for understanding the issues at hand and interrogating them. With this text students are encouraged not to accept uncritically what anyone says about the issues; the mission of the book is to foster informed, independent critical thinking on their part. Built around a number of engaging case studies, each chapter: · explains and defines the moral problem dealt with · provides relevant excerpts of readings on both sides of the issue · analyzes the ethical issues, enabling students to make an informed and reasoned judgment of their own Holmes presents real examples of ethical problems that everyone will recognize, ranging from widely resolved ethical judgements around racism and sexism, to contested and controversial debates such as assisted suicide and an individuals right to privacy. These case studies all raise ethical issues, posing questions for the reader, fostering a discursive atmosphere in classrooms that solve the original design problem without the unfortunate features of the original solution. This original, focused approach provides an ideal entry point for anyone approaching ethics for the first time and looking to better understand ethical responsibilities within the contemporary world.