Overview

An exceptionally clear, compact, and affordable introduction to a broad range of ethical theoriesIn The Fundamentals of Ethics, fifth edition, author Russ Shafer-Landau employs a uniquely engaging writing style to introduce students to the essential ideas of moral philosophy. Offering more comprehensive coverage of the good life, normative ethics, and metaethics than any other text of its kind, this book also addresses issues that are often omitted from other texts, such as the doctrine of doing and allowing, the doctrine of double effect, ethical particularism, the desire-satisfaction theory of well-being, moral error theory, and Ross's theory of prima facie duties. Shafer-Landau carefully reconstructs and analyzes dozens of arguments in depth, at a level that is understandable to students with no prior philosophical background.NEW TO THIS EDITIONNearly thirty Cases for Critical Reflection, designed to stimulate further thought about the theories discussed in Parts 1 (The Good Life) and 2 (Normative Ethics)Chapter 12 now includes a separate discussion of the problem of free willA new Chapter 22, Is Moral Knowledge Possible? Five Skeptical Arguments, introduces moral skepticismSubstantial improvements to many sections, including ""Happiness and Intrinsic Value"" in Chapter 1; all three sections in Chapter 5; ""Natural Purposes"" in Chapter 6; and ""Rule Consequentialism"" in Chapter 10.This title is available as an eBook. Please contact your Learning Resource Consultant for more information.

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9780190058319

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Reviews

This is the best introductory ethics text on the market. I have been assigning it since 2009 and expect to do so for the foreseeable future. Its focus on constructing and evaluating arguments distinguishes it from competing volumes and helps new philosophy students quickly acclimate themselves to the field. --Robert M. Farley, Hillsborough Community College The Fundamentals of Ethics is a great introduction to ethics. Shafer-Landau introduces students to metaethics and individual moral theories. He also provides great use of philosophical arguments and terminology without being overly technical. Finally, the price is much lower than alternatives. --Hoon Lee, Triton College In The Fundamentals of Ethics, the essential arguments rise to the top and are easily consumed and digested. For a short introduction, the text is amazingly comprehensive in its coverage of the major moral theories. The writing style is the stand-out strength of the book. --Adam English, Campbell University

This is the best introductory ethics text on the market. I have been assigning it since 2009 and expect to do so for the foreseeable future. Its focus on constructing and evaluating arguments distinguishes it from competing volumes and helps new philosophy students quickly acclimate themselves to the field. - Robert M. Farley, Hillsborough Community College The Fundamentals of Ethics is a great introduction to ethics. Shafer-Landau introduces students to metaethics and individual moral theories. He also provides great use of philosophical arguments and terminology without being overly technical. Finally, the price is much lower than alternatives. - Hoon Lee, Triton College In The Fundamentals of Ethics, the essential arguments rise to the top and are easily consumed and digested. For a short introduction, the text is amazingly comprehensive in its coverage of the major moral theories. The writing style is the stand-out strength of the book. - Adam English, Campbell University

Author Information

Russ Shafer-Landau is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author, editor, or coeditor of several books including Living Ethics (OUP, 2018) and The Ethical Life, Fourth Edition (OUP, 2017). He is also the editor of Oxford Studies in Metaethics.

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