Ethics in Action - by Peggy Connolly & David R Keller & Martin G Leever & Becky Cox White (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Through the analysis of forty ethical dilemmas drawn from real-life situations, Ethics in Action guides the reader through a process of moral deliberation that leads to the resolution of a variety of moral dilemmas.

• Fosters critical thinking by evaluating the reasons people give to support their choices and actions
• Challenges the paradigm of moral relativism that often impedes efforts to resolve moral dilemmas
• Incorporates international perspectives often lacking in texts published for a U.S. audience

From the Back Cover

It's difficult to always know the "right" thing to do. Contemporary life is fraught with situations where the choices that confront us are morally problematic. Ethics in Action demonstrates the prevalence of moral quandaries we face on an almost daily basis, and provides us with the moral problem-solving skills to meet them.

Utilizing forty "real-life" ethical dilemmas drawn from personal and professional experiences and media accounts, Ethics in Action subjects each case study to rigorous analyses using a systematic method for resolving moral dilemmas. Moral dilemmas are considered from multiple perspectives: one commentator arguing for a particular solution, a second commentator arguing against that solution, and a third commentator demonstrating why neither solution is complete in and of itself and demonstrating, through an expanded moral analysis, the morally preferable solution. As a result, the reader is shown the value of discourse in moral problem solving while being guided through a process of moral deliberation that leads to ethically defensible resolutions of moral dilemmas across a wide range of disciplines.

Ethics in Action provides readers with valuable critical-thinking skills to meet the challenges of ethical dilemmas and moral ambiguity they face every day--while inspiring us all to keep our moral compasses pointing in the right direction.

Review Quotes

""An admirable feature is that most cases are entirely real, with facts backed up by copious." (The Philosopher, Autumn 2010)

"For those tired of the usual text in moral or social problems, Ethics in Action offers a welcome vacation. While most of the topics are familiar (the environment, social relations, biomedical ethics, and so on), most of the cases in those sections are not. All the cases are interesting in themselves. No trolley problems here!"
- Michael Davis, Illinois Institute of Technology

"This well-written book admirably shows how case-driven moral reasoning is a complex, sophisticated process, one grounded in a rational framework. Readers will learn much from the authors' approach and be deeply challenged by the cases."
- Christopher Meyers, Kegley Institute of Ethics

"This book provides an invaluable resource for classroom discussion. It is rich with examples that will draw students into a deeper exploration of theory. A must-have for anyone serious about teaching ethics."
- Aine Donovan, Dartmouth College

About the Author

Peggy Connolly, EdD, chair, Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl national case-writing committee

David R. Keller, PhD, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for the Study of Ethics, Utah Valley University

Martin G. Leever, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI

Becky Cox-White, PhD, Professor, Department of Philosophy, and Fellow, Center for Applied and Professional Ethics, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA