Introduction to Applied Ethics

Few people make moral judgments by taking the theory first and then “applying” it to practical moral problems. This ethics textbook, purpose built for undergraduates, with your interests, needs, and experience in mind, proceeds in the way we first begin thinking ethically – that is, by encountering practical moral problems and then introducing theory for understanding the issues at hand and interrogating them. You will be encouraged not to accept uncritically what anyone says about the issues; the mission of the book is to assist you in informed, independent, critical thinking.

Built around a number of engaging case studies, each chapter:

· explains and defines the moral problem dealt with
· provides excerpts of readings on both sides of the issue
· analyses the problem, using the relevant theory
· empowers you to make informed and reasoned judgments of your own

The examples are ethical problems that everyone will recognize, ranging from widely resolved ethical judgments around racism and sexism, to more controversial debates such as assisted suicide, the death penalty, and an individual's right to privacy.

This focused approach creates discussion in the classroom, and provides an ideal entry point for anyone approaching ethics for the first time and looking to better understand ethical responsibilities within the contemporary world.