{"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\u003cstrong\u003eHi, I'm Matt Deaton, ethics bowl enthusiast, online ethics professor and YouTube sensation.\u003c\/strong\u003e Well, maybe not YouTube \u003cem\u003esensation...\u003c\/em\u003e But still, you may know me from hits such as \"Sandel's Justice Chapter 2: Utilitarianism\" (recorded in front of the White House) or \"Ethics in a Nutshell Chapter 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 confusing 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 \u003cstrong\u003eYouTube.com\/MattDeatonPhD\u003c\/strong\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 (in 100 beautiful normal-font-sized pages).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's philosophy? \u003c\/strong\u003eThe reason-based attempt to answer life's big non-empirical questions. (If your professor doesn't explain it this way, they're wrong, not me.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's ethics? \u003c\/strong\u003eThe reason-based attempt to answer questions about what we morally ought to do. (Same as above - accept no substitutes.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are philosophers (including ethicists) like?\u003c\/strong\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\u003cstrong\u003eCan philosophical ethics and religion peacefully coexist?\u003c\/strong\u003e Of course  Your uncle or pastor may have told you different. 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. Some even use philosophical ethics to inform their religious moral reasoning, and vice versa. However, I present ethics as a supplement, not a replacement - feel free to incorporate only what makes sense, and to segregate the philosopher's approach from your own if you like.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoesn't the law tell us what our ethics should be? \u003c\/strong\u003ePlease no. Consider laws legitimizing the sale of human beings 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 the practice \u003cem\u003eimmoral.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill you pretty please with sugar on top simplify the four dominant ethical theories?\u003c\/strong\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: \u003cstrong\u003eo\u003c\/strong\u003enly 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\u003cstrong\u003eHow do moral arguments by analogy work? \u003c\/strong\u003eBy 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 about the lecture vids (making new ones for chapters 1-4 this year, 2020). There are also various teaching resources at EthicsinaNutshell.org (sample essay and exam questions, editable syllabi for high school and college classes). And feel free to shoot me questions - either via the public \"Ask Matt\" interface at EthicsinaNutshell.org or the private contact form at MattDeaton.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Notaed Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/23\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780989254243\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 128\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.32lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.99h x 5.00w x 0.30d","brand":"Matt Deaton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36646584287388,"sku":"9780989254243","price":12.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_b3788041-7d82-45a3-a361-9718c93ec074.jpg?v=1603864576","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/ethics-in-a-nutshell-the-philosophers-approach-to-morality-in-100-pages-9780989254243","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}