The Puzzle of Ethics
A guide to the complex subject of ethics explained in clear and entertaining language. This ebook relates to the 1999 paperback edition.This popular introduction to the subject of ethics poses vital contemporary questions and explores the approach of leading thinkers.The authors take the reader, step by step, through the complex arguments on issues such as animal an human rights, environmental ethics and the morality of war.‘It is a great gift to be able to make philosophy accessible to the general reader. This is a wonderfully clear introduction both to moral philosophy and to contemporary ethical concerns.’David Atkinson, Church Times
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First published in Great Britain in 1994 by Fount Paperbacks
This revised edition 1999
© 1994, 1999 Peter Vardy and Paul Grosch
Peter Vardy and Paul Grosch assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Source ISBN: 9780006281443
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2016 ISBN: 9780007384051
Version: 2016-03-15
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Praise for the first edition of The Puzzle of Ethics
‘A wonderfully clear introduction to moral philosophy and to various topics of contemporary ethical concern … This is a book for which many students and the general reader … will be grateful.’
David Atkinson
‘The great advantage of The Puzzle of Ethics over its rivals is that the authors are so thorough, so balanced and so clear. This is a good book.’
Robin Gill, The Tablet
‘The philosopher of religion and gifted communicator Peter Vardy … and Paul Grosch … provide an accessible, balanced and up to date introduction to moral philosophy.’
The Way
‘This book will fill an irritating gap in the current literature available and provide a valuable resource … Vardy and Grosch are serious commentators who have something to say to the general reader; as with all the Puzzle books, accessibility and clarity are the benchmarks of style.’
Peter Tyler, The Month
Contents
2 Plato – Virtue and Knowledge
4 Aquinas, Natural Law and Proportionalism
6 Bentham and Mill – Utilitarianism
7 Post-utilitarian Perspectives:
8 MacIntyre – Virtue Theory Revisited
11 Justice and Morality – Rawls and Nozick
Both authors owe a great debt to their students past and present. Responsibility for the errors and omissions in this book rests entirely with the authors, however there would have been more of them were it not for the help of those who read individual chapters and offered their advice. Peter Vardy wishes to acknowledge help given by Michael Barnes SJ, Alan Carter, Bernard Hoose, Gerry Hughes SJ, Janice Thomas and Anne Vardy. Paul Grosch wishes to thank Adrian Mills and Alan Gorman for the many discussions on the nature of justice. He has also benefited from discussions with his colleagues: Dilys Wadman, Liz Stuart, Rachael Quinlan, Adrian Thatcher, Jim Little, Jon Goulding, Gordon Bartlett and Alan Cousins. He wishes to record his special thanks to Anne Littlejohn and David Benzie for their help in taming recalcitrant word-processors when time was fast running out.
Ethics is central to modern life. Lawyers, accountants, doctors, nurses, the police, members of the armed forces, social workers and many others are required to study ethical issues as part of their training. Before any ethical issue can be examined, however, it is first necessary to be clear on the underlying assumptions which govern the debate and, in particular, to understand the different ethical frameworks that can be applied. Unless one is clear on the assumptions, it will not be possible to understand the viewpoints of others or challenge one’s own.
Discussion of, for instance, abortion, euthanasia or sexual morality cannot usefully take place unless there has first been an examination of key issues which will include:
When does human life begin?
What is a human person?
Is life an absolute good?
Should governments seek to maximise freedom?
Is achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people the main aim of politics?
Do you support a deontological or a consequentialist approach to ethics?
Can a proportionate reason ever justify going against a firm moral rule?
