Ethical Argument: Critical Thinking in Ethics / Edition 2

by Hugh Mercer Curtler

Overview

Designed to immediately engage students and other readers in philosophical reflection, the new edition of Ethical Argument: Critical Thinking in Ethics bridges the gap between ethical theory and practice. This brief introduction combines a discussion of ethical theory with fundamental elements of critical thinking—including informal fallacies and the basics of logic—and uses case studies and practical applications to illustrate concepts. Author Hugh Mercer Curtler presents a carefully formulated critique of ethical relativism, encouraging students to reason along with him and to question his argument at every point. This approach enables students to think systematically about ethical issues and to acquire basic skills in argumentation at the same time. They will learn how to bring principles to bear on ethical conflict, how to weigh pros and cons, how to recognize good ethical reasons, and how to distinguish sound argumentation from rationalization.
The second edition of Ethical Argument: Critical Thinking in Ethics includes new exercises and examples, summary boxes, cartoons, and sample dialogues that demonstrate how to effectively debate ethical positions. It features more than forty case studies on ethical issues that are interesting and relevant to students. An ideal core text for courses in introductory ethics, this concise volume can be used along with additional primary sources, case studies, or newspaper articles and novels. It is also a helpful supplementary text for courses in applied ethics—including professional, business, and medical ethics—and in critical thinking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195173161
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/26/2004
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.52(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Southwest Minnesota State University

Table of Contents

Foreword, by Susan Leigh AndersonPreface: To the InstructorIntroduction: To the StudentSetting the Stage: Opening Dialogue1. Is It All a Matter of Opinion? Relativism versus Objectivism2. The FrameworkInterlude: Rick and Nina Revisited3. Devising a Procedure4. The Justification of Ethical Claims5. Ethical Argument in Action6. Cases for Discussion and AnalysisGlossary of Key Terms Used in This TextIndex