Dilemmas That Give Ethics: The Story of the Philosopher's Morals
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2024
Pages: 104
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2024
Pages: 102
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We are told dilemmas happen when we try to decide right from wrong…but what if they can be the reason for deciding right from wrong? The philosophers used their challenges to make ethics. Modern challenges come in technology, data, money, and relationships and shape our part in the morality play called life. This book suggests that ethics is a story – sometimes, its heroes are tragic like Socrates. Others, like Confucius, are heroic just for trying to hold tradition in one hand and change in the other. Some like Augustine, find ethics are born out of love and loss; others like Budda, see the way through life’s hardships.
After a quick introduction to the essential ethical theories, the reader is given quick introductions to each philosopher and their dilemma/question. Each entry concludes by asking if the philosopher is advocating consequential ethics. The text also includes a mind Map example for a quick visual review of each philosopher, their contribution to ethics, and a few questions for study. Short entries on motives, terms, and how Western and Eastern ethics have contributed to moral philosophy, are also given.
Forward
(One) Large Goal of This Text
Ethical Awareness
Chapter 1: The Basics of Ethics
The Three Main Theories of Ethics: Consequential, Nonconsequential, and Virtue/Care
The Three Main Authorities in Ethics: Religion, Law, and Culture
The Three Strengths of Application: Absolutism, Objectivism, and Relativism
Ethical Images to Illustrate Morality: Word Pictures in Etymology, Patterns in Pop Culture, Tech, and So On
The Moral Context of the Philosopher’s Dilemmas/Questions
Chapter 2: Setting the Stage for Western Ethics: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Socrates: Clear Thinking about What Is Right
Socrates—One Must Think Clearly about What Is Right
Plato—Clear Thinking about a Perfect Society
Aristotle—Clear Thinking about a Purpose-Driven Character That Flourishes
Augustine—Clear Thinking about Moral Love and Evil
Thomas Aquinas: Clear Thinking about the Highest Good in Autonomous Ethics
David Hume: Clear Thinking about Perception and Reality in Ethics
Soren Kierkegaard: Clear Thinking about Ethical Motives
Immanuel Kant: Clear Thinking about Moral Duties
John Stuart Mill—Clear Thinking about Liberty and Happiness for All
Karl Marx: Clear Thinking about Economic Ethics
Camus and Nietzsche: Clear Thinking About Life’s Ethical Meaning
Friedrich Nietzsche: Nihilism
Chapter 3: The Eastern Stage for Ethics
Comparison Summary in the Philosophers/Traditions
Summary Comparisons of East to West
Summary Review/Questions
Hinduism: Clear Thinking About Transcendence in Ethics
Buddhism—One Must Think Clearly about Desire and Suffering
Confucius: One Must Think Clearly about People
Lao-Tzu and Daoism—One Must Think Rightly of the Natural Way
Ethical Market Value: Is it Only Money?
Bibliography
Joseph Loftis writes from experience in an educational background of over 30 years. His research has been primarily in philosophy and theology but increasingly so in the area of ethics on a broader level. His writing focuses on the need to join a visual and verbal style for grasping the basics of moral philosophy. He has earned his B.A. in theology and art from Concordia University, his M. Div at Concordia Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in philosophy and theology from Trinity Seminary-Newburgh.
He has been an adjunct instructor and writer since he began pursuing his doctoral work. This includes online courses for high school and university level students. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor for ethics and philosophy courses in Indiana.
We are told dilemmas happen when we try to decide right from wrong…but what if they can be the reason for deciding right from wrong? The philosophers used their challenges to make ethics. Modern challenges come in technology, data, money, and relationships and shape our part in the morality play called life. This book suggests that ethics is a story – sometimes, its heroes are tragic like Socrates. Others, like Confucius, are heroic just for trying to hold tradition in one hand and change in the other. Some like Augustine, find ethics are born out of love and loss; others like Budda, see the way through life’s hardships.
After a quick introduction to the essential ethical theories, the reader is given quick introductions to each philosopher and their dilemma/question. Each entry concludes by asking if the philosopher is advocating consequential ethics. The text also includes a mind Map example for a quick visual review of each philosopher, their contribution to ethics, and a few questions for study. Short entries on motives, terms, and how Western and Eastern ethics have contributed to moral philosophy, are also given.
Forward
(One) Large Goal of This Text
Ethical Awareness
Chapter 1: The Basics of Ethics
The Three Main Theories of Ethics: Consequential, Nonconsequential, and Virtue/Care
The Three Main Authorities in Ethics: Religion, Law, and Culture
The Three Strengths of Application: Absolutism, Objectivism, and Relativism
Ethical Images to Illustrate Morality: Word Pictures in Etymology, Patterns in Pop Culture, Tech, and So On
The Moral Context of the Philosopher’s Dilemmas/Questions
Chapter 2: Setting the Stage for Western Ethics: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Socrates: Clear Thinking about What Is Right
Socrates—One Must Think Clearly about What Is Right
Plato—Clear Thinking about a Perfect Society
Aristotle—Clear Thinking about a Purpose-Driven Character That Flourishes
Augustine—Clear Thinking about Moral Love and Evil
Thomas Aquinas: Clear Thinking about the Highest Good in Autonomous Ethics
David Hume: Clear Thinking about Perception and Reality in Ethics
Soren Kierkegaard: Clear Thinking about Ethical Motives
Immanuel Kant: Clear Thinking about Moral Duties
John Stuart Mill—Clear Thinking about Liberty and Happiness for All
Karl Marx: Clear Thinking about Economic Ethics
Camus and Nietzsche: Clear Thinking About Life’s Ethical Meaning
Friedrich Nietzsche: Nihilism
Chapter 3: The Eastern Stage for Ethics
Comparison Summary in the Philosophers/Traditions
Summary Comparisons of East to West
Summary Review/Questions
Hinduism: Clear Thinking About Transcendence in Ethics
Buddhism—One Must Think Clearly about Desire and Suffering
Confucius: One Must Think Clearly about People
Lao-Tzu and Daoism—One Must Think Rightly of the Natural Way
Ethical Market Value: Is it Only Money?
Bibliography
Joseph Loftis writes from experience in an educational background of over 30 years. His research has been primarily in philosophy and theology but increasingly so in the area of ethics on a broader level. His writing focuses on the need to join a visual and verbal style for grasping the basics of moral philosophy. He has earned his B.A. in theology and art from Concordia University, his M. Div at Concordia Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in philosophy and theology from Trinity Seminary-Newburgh.
He has been an adjunct instructor and writer since he began pursuing his doctoral work. This includes online courses for high school and university level students. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor for ethics and philosophy courses in Indiana.