“The perfect handbook for understanding what constitutes moral relations with friends, enemies, and one’s own self.”
—Booklist
In an age when most of us spend more time thinking about what movie we’ll see than about how we want to lead our lives, nothing could be more timely and helpful than Everyday Ethics. In this refreshingly original book, Joshua Halberstam shows us how to develop a moral imagination—and have fun while doing it.
Halberstam demolishes the clichés of both religion and psychotherapy and entices us into looking at the small actions that make up the big picture of our character and values. Should we really refrain from making judgments? Should we let our conscience be our guide even if it urges us not to pay our taxes? Halberstam has something intriguing to say about these and many other issues. Witty and entertaining, Everyday Ethics is the moral equivalent of an aerobic dance session, as exhilarating as it is instructive.
The author of Virtues and Values: An Introduction to Ethics shows readers how to develop a moral imagination--and have fun doing it--as he demolishes the cliches of religion and psychotherapy and entices readers into looking at the small actions that make up the big picture of character and values.
Joshua Halberstam, Ph.D., divides his workday between teaching moral philosophy and directing marketing campaigns and managerial programs for a number of well-known companies. A frequent guest on "Oprah," he currently teaches philosophy at Columbia University. He is also the author of several other books, including Schmoozing and Everyday Ethics.
Preface Introduction
Part I. The Morality of Relationships
1. Friends and Foes Do You Like Your Friends?
Are Your Friendships Mutual?
Are You Friends at a Distance?
Special Friends When a Friendship Is Over Enemies A Final Word on Hatred
2. The Morality of Romance (and a Bit about Sex)
Romance And a Bit about Sex
3. Creeps and Saints The Philosophy of Creephood The Traits of Creephood When the Saints Come Marchin' In Your Saintly Habits
Part II. The Morality of Expression and Emotion
4. Talk Conversation: The Three Levels of Talk Head-Talk Versus Heart-Talk Argument: Look Who's Talking The Principle of Falsifiability The Closed-System Trap
5. Emotions The Seven Deadly Sins Revisited Emotions and Character Green with Envy Taking Control of Your Emotions
Part III. The Morality of Making Judgments
Making Judgments: An Introductory Comment
6. Judging Yourself Stop Squeezing Every Pimple on Your Personality You Are Your Convictions Moral Guilt Moral Pride
7. Judging Others Who Are You to Judge?
Three Common Evasions Moral Projection: You Believe What You Are You Can't Read People Like a Book Judging Others: The Method
8. Judging the Issues The Background: Three Confusions About Moral Judgment The Process: Cherish the Controversy The Courage of Your Convictions
Part IV. The Integrity of Your Values
9. Nine Misleading Moral Clichés (and Their Cures)
What Goes Around Comes Around Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide All's Fair in Love and War All Religions Teach the Same Basic Moral Truths Natural is Morally Better Love Humanity There are Two Sides to Every Moral Issue You Are Responsible for Your Disease Moral Values Can't Be Taught
10. The Value of Your Values Reevaluating: What Do You Want?
Instrumental and Intrinsic Goods Invent Your Future, Reinvent Your Past The Pluralism of Ideals On the Virtue of Being Confused Who Is Leading Your Life?
Overview
“The perfect handbook for understanding what constitutes moral relations with friends, enemies, and one’s own self.”
—Booklist
In an age when most of us spend more time thinking about what movie we’ll see than about how we want to lead our lives, nothing could be more timely and helpful than Everyday Ethics. In this refreshingly original book, Joshua Halberstam shows us how to develop a moral imagination—and have fun while doing it.
Halberstam ...