The Good Life: Options in Ethics

Intended for use in the introduction to ethics course, The Good Life: Options in Ethics, Fifth Edition is designed to engage today’s practical-minded student in more fundamental questions. The book ranges from ideals in living (the good) to contemporary moral problems (the right), exploring and analyzing both areas in order to stimulate deeper reflection.

The first section of the book clears away the obstacles to pursuing ethical understanding - relativism, determinism, and egoism. Then traditional definitions of the good life are discussed, theories such as hedonism, self-realization, duty, evolutionism, religious ethics, and virtue ethic. The final section addresses today’s social problems including abortion, euthanasia, animal welfare, capital punishment, and sexual morality.

New to the Fifth Edition:

Chapter 6, Following Nature, has been eliminated, and its contents have been integrated into appropriate chapters

New section entitled Contemporary Moral Issues includes new chapters on: Contraception and Abortion Punishment and the Death Penalty Sexual Ethics The Natural Environment Racism and Sexism

An Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank now accompany the text