Rent 9780195130409 | A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox

Summary Table of Contents Author Biography

The aim of A Twenty-First Century Ethical Toolbox is to enable its users to make a constructive difference, in both word and deed, in problematic moral situations and real-life moral controversies. It's an ethics textbook with a difference. Ethics in this book is not a purely academic or historical or theoretical subject -- though some of those themes are here as well -- but primarily a practical subject that requires a wide range of practical skills: from paying attention to values to judging like cases alike; from learning how to "break out o... MOREf the box" to learning how to move beyond rhetoric to real dialogue. Similarly, in approaching the moral issues of the day, this book offers you the tools to work out constrcutive, creative, and mutually-agreeable next steps -- to actually make progressr on the issue -- not just a tour of the controversy as it stands. Primarily authored by Anthony Weston, the Toolbox also includes gripping and provocative short selections from essayists, activists, and even a few philosophers.

Taking a refreshingly hands-on approach to introductory ethics, A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox provides students with a set of tools to help them understand and make a constructive difference in real-life moral controversies. Thoroughly optimistic, it invites students to approach ethical issues with a reconstructive intent, making room for more and better options than the traditional "pro" and "con" positions that have grown up around tough problems like abortion and animal rights. Ideal for introductory and applied ethics courses, this unique text does not treat ethics as a purely academic, historical, or theoretical subject, but as a wide-ranging and ongoing set of challenges that calls for multiple and interwoven kinds of intelligence. It covers the skills that are most vital to making real progress in ethics, including paying careful attention to the values at stake on all sides of an issue; looking for creative opportunities within difficult problems; critical-thinking skills such as defining key terms and making sure to judge similar cases alike; and learning how to engage in constructive dialogue. Instructors can readily use the experiential and applied activities inspired by this "toolbox" of practical skills to design an interactive and collaborative ethics course. Students can carry these essential skills directly from this book into such projects as campaigning for environmental awareness and staffing local homeless shelters. In addition to his own discussion, Weston includes gripping and provocative short selections from essayists, activists, and philosophers, and also cites his own students. Extensive "Exercises and Notes" sections end each chapter, and a detailed appendix offers instructors advice on how to use the Toolbox in the classroom.

This is an introduction to ethics textbook with a difference. Its aim is to enable its users to make a constructive difference, in both word and deed, in problematic moral situations and real-life moral controversies. Ethics in this book is not a purely academic or historical or theoretical subject - through some of these themes are here as well - but primarily a practical subject that requires a wide range of practical skills: from paying attention to values to judging like cases alike; from learning how to "break out of the box" to learning how to move beyond rhetoric to real dialogue. To supplement Weston's discussion, the Toolbox includes gripping and provocative short selections from essay lists, activists, and philosophers.

Preface

WELCOME TO THE ETHICAL TOOLBOX

PART I. GETTING STARTED

1. Ethics as a Learning Experience

The Need for Open Minds

Three Easy Routes to a Closed Mind (and How to Avoid Them)

Preface

vii

Welcome to the Ethical Toolbox

(8)

I GETTING STARTED

Ethics as a Learning Experience

(24)

... MORE

The Need for Open Minds

(2)

Three Easy Routes to a Closed Mind (and How to Avoid Them)

(10)

Reading: C. P. Ellis, interviewed

(8)

Studs Terkel

Exercises and Notes

(4)

Ethics and Religion

(16)

Religion's Contributions to Ethics

(2)

Religion's Limits in Ethics

(4)

Thinking for Yourself

(4)

Exercises and Notes

(6)

II VALUES

Paying Attention to Values

(19)

Definitions: Values and Moral Values

(4)

Guidelines

(5)

Reading: Edward Abbey, ``The Great American Desert''

(6)

Exercises and Notes

(4)

Families of Moral Values

(15)

Three Families of Moral Values

(7)

Mapping Moral Debates

(4)

Exercises and Notes

(4)

Some Traditional Ethical Theories

(20)

Utilitarianism

(6)

Theories of Right Action

(5)

Theories of Virtue

(5)

Exercises and Notes

(4)

When Values Clash: Theoretical Approaches

103

(14)

Utlitarian Strategies: Finding a Single Measure

103

(3)

Non-Utilitarian Strategies: Prioritizing Values

106

(2)

When Theories Stalemate

108

(6)

Exercises and Notes

114

(3)

When Values Clash: Integrative Approaches

117

(20)

Another View of Moral Conflicts

117

(3)

Integrative Methods

120

(4)

When to Hold Firm

124

(3)

Reading: Roger Rosenblatt, ``How to End the Abortion War''

127

(4)

Exercises and Notes

131

(6)

III TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING IN ETHICS

Finding the Facts

137

(10)

When Facts Are at Issue

137

(3)

Inferences

140

(4)

Exercises and Notes

144

(3)

Watching Words

147

(13)

Loaded Language

147

(1)

When Terms Are Unclear

148

(1)

When Terms Are Contested

149

(7)

Exercises and Notes

156

(4)

Judging Like Cases Alike

160

(19)

Consistency Is Not Easy

160

(2)

How to Restore Consistency

162

(2)

Invented Cases

164

(3)

Reading: Colin McGinn, ``Speciesism''

167

(6)

Exercises and Notes

173

(6)

IV TOOLS FOR CREATIVITY IN ETHICS

Multiplying Options

179

(11)

The Need for Inventiveness in Ethics

179

(2)

How to ``Get Out of the Box''

181

(3)

More Provocations: ``What If . . . ?'' Thinking

184

(2)

Exercises and Notes

186

(4)

Problem-Shifting

190

(13)

Reframing Problems

190

(2)

Making the Problem an Opportunity

192

(6)

Exercises and Notes

198

(5)

V PUTTING ETHICS INTO ACTION

Picking the Right Tools

203

(15)

Know What Your Goals Are

203

(2)

Matching Tools to Goals

205

(11)

Exercises and Notes

216

(2)

Dialogue: Learning By Talking

218

(20)

How to Have a Fruitless Debate

218

(3)

How to Have a Useful Discussion

221

(7)

Reading: The Common Ground Network for Life and Choice, ``Common Ground Rules''

228

(6)

Exercises and Notes

234

(4)

Service: Learning by Helping

238

(19)

Calls to Service

238

(5)

Visits to a Homeless Shelter

243

(5)

Reading: Ram Dass and Paul Gorman, ``Compassion: The Witness Within''

248

(4)

Exercises and Notes

252

(5)

VI CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Sexuality

257

(22)

Who Cares About Sex?

257

(3)

Can We Build on Sexual Common Ground?

260

(2)

``Perversion''

262

(5)

Reading: Jason Schultz, ``Bachelor Party''

267

(7)

Exercises and Notes

274

(5)

Abortion

279

(20)

Background

279

(3)

Key Values

282

(4)

Can We Get the Abortion Debate Unstuck?

286

(3)

Reading: Rayna Rapp, ``XYLO''

289

(6)

Exercises and Notes

295

(4)

Business and Professional Ethics

299

(22)

Ethics and Professions

299

(5)

Ethics and Business

304

(5)

Reading: Lisa Newton and David Schmidt, ``Obviously a Major Malfunction''

309

(8)

Exercises and Notes

317

(4)

Poverty and Welfare

321

(24)

Background

321

(2)

Shared Values

323

(3)

Understanding Poverty

326

(3)

Reading: Rosemary Bray, ``So How Did I Get Here?''

329

(8)

Exercises and Notes

337

(8)

VII THE EXPANDING CIRCLE

Animals

345

(19)

Why Should We Care About Animals?

345

(4)

What Can We Do?

349

(4)

Reading: Lorri Bauston, ``Animal Rescue''

353

(6)

Exercises and Notes

359

(5)

Environmental Ethics

364

(19)

Wake-up Calls

364

(1)

Beyond Anthropocentrism?

365

(3)

Integrating Environmental Values

368

(5)

Reading: Violet Woodsorrel Oxalis, ``It's a Little Wild Out There''

373

(5)

Exercises and Notes

378

(5)

Notes for Teachers: The Toolbox in the Classroom

383

(21)

Index

404

Anthony Weston teaches philosophy and environmental studies at Elon College, North Carolina, and serves as Master Teacher in Elon's Global Studies program.

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