{"product_id":"ethics-in-a-nutshell-the-philosophers-approach-to-morality-in-100-pages-9780989254243","title":"Ethics in a Nutshell: The Philosopher's Approach to Morality in 100 Pages","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHi, I'm Matt Deaton, ethics bowl enthusiast, online ethics professor and YouTube sensation.\u003c\/b\u003e Well, maybe not YouTube \u003cem\u003esensation...\u003c\/em\u003e But still, you may know me from hits such as \"Sandel's \u003cem\u003eJustice \u003c\/em\u003eChapter 2: Utilitarianism\" (recorded in front of the White House) or \u003cem\u003e\"Ethics in a Nutshell \u003c\/em\u003eChapter 5: The Four Dominant Ethical Theories\" (recorded floating down a river) or possibly from EthicsBowl.org. Thanks for checking out my concise and more laid back than most ethics intro.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs you may already know, philosophical ethics can be confusing, especially if you're evil. Kidding! It's tough even for the best of us, sometimes boring, and often stuffier than it needs to be. Let's fix that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheck out \u003cb\u003eYouTube.com\/MattDeatonPhD\u003c\/b\u003e to preview my style and see complementary videos for every chapter. If I'm too laid back for your tastes, no worries - more complicated ethics intros abound. But if I'm resonating, here are some of the questions \u003cem\u003eEthics in a Nutshell\u003c\/em\u003e answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat's philosophy?\u003c\/b\u003e The reason-based attempt to answer life's big non-empirical questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat's ethics?\u003c\/b\u003e The reason-based attempt to decide what we morally ought to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat are philosophers (including ethicists) like?\u003c\/b\u003e Spock. Yes, the one from Star Trek with the pointy ears. Devoted to the rational pursuit of truth, but humble, and willing to change his mind when given good reason (and with great hair) - Spock would have made a fine philosopher. Love him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan philosophical ethics and religion peacefully coexist?\u003c\/b\u003e Of course! Your uncle or pastor may disagree. But surely a creator would want us to use these big brains to think through all sorts of questions, including questions about what we morally ought to do. However, I present philosophical ethics as a supplement, not a replacement - so feel free to incorporate only what makes sense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoesn't the law tell us what our ethics should be?\u003c\/b\u003e Please no. Consider laws legitimizing the sale of humans or forbidding women from voting. Even when you could \u003cem\u003elegally\u003c\/em\u003e buy people, this didn't make the practice \u003cem\u003emoral.\u003c\/em\u003e Even when women were \u003cem\u003elegally\u003c\/em\u003e banned from voting, this didn't make covert female voters \u003cem\u003eimmoral.\u003c\/em\u003e Good law tracks morality, but doesn't guarantee it. So leave interpreting the law to judges. We get to decide what the law should be, which is far more fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill you pretty please with sugar on top simplify the four dominant ethical theories?\u003c\/b\u003e Yes! Utilitarianism mandates that we maximize net pleasure (for everyone impacted by a decision, not just ourselves - sorry, it's not selfish hedonism). Kantianism: only do stuff you could rationally endorse everyone else doing, and treat persons with respect (and never as mere tools). Feminist Care Ethics: prioritize the interests of loved ones. Virtue Ethics: practice the virtues (bravery, patience) and avoid the vices (cowardice, The Masked Singer).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow do moral arguments by analogy work?\u003c\/b\u003e By comparing two relevantly similar cases and applying similar moral logic to both. \"Hey, case A is about personal freedom, and so is case B. So let's treat case B the same way we treat case A. Duh.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere's more, but that's enough for now. Don't forget the lecture vids - made new ones for chapters 1-3 in 2020. Teachers, check out the sample essay and exam questions and editable syllabi at \u003cb\u003eEthicsinaNutshell.org\u003c\/b\u003e. And all readers, feel free to shoot me questions via the contact form at \u003cb\u003eMattDeaton.com. \u003c\/b\u003eCheers, Matt\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Notaed Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50414560411922,"sku":"9780989254243","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1c81661f-60a1-43e2-9f59-c97704ebb555.jpg?v=1729372233","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ethics-in-a-nutshell-the-philosophers-approach-to-morality-in-100-pages-9780989254243","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}