Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong

Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong introduces fundamental concepts and theories in moral philosophy through structured analysis and real-world examples. The text examines key ethical frameworks including moral relativism, moral absolutism, divine command theory, and various forms of consequentialism. Pojman presents arguments for and against major ethical positions, incorporating perspectives from classical philosophers to contemporary thinkers. The book addresses topics such as moral responsibility, justice, virtue ethics, and the foundations of moral behavior. Core questions of moral philosophy drive the narrative: What makes actions right or wrong? How do we determine moral truth? What role do reason and emotion play in ethical decision-making? The text aims to equip readers with tools for ethical analysis and practical moral reasoning. The work stands as an exploration of how humans navigate moral choices and construct systems of values, while highlighting the ongoing dialogue between competing ethical frameworks throughout history.

Readers describe this as a clear introduction to moral philosophy that presents opposing viewpoints without pushing an agenda. Philosophy students and instructors appreciate the balanced treatment of competing ethical frameworks. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex concepts - Includes discussion questions and real-world examples - Presents multiple perspectives on controversial topics - Accessible writing style for undergraduates Disliked: - Some sections feel rushed or oversimplified - Later chapters can be repetitive - Religious perspectives receive limited coverage - Few contemporary ethical issues discussed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (41 ratings) Notable reviews: "Perfect balance between academic rigor and readability" - Philosophy professor on Amazon "Explains competing views without bias, letting readers draw conclusions" - Goodreads reviewer "Good intro text but lacks depth for advanced students" - Philosophy student reviewer

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🔸 Louis Pojman served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era before becoming a philosophy professor, which influenced his perspectives on moral philosophy and ethics. 🔸 The book tackles complex ethical theories through real-world examples, including discussions of contemporary issues like animal rights, euthanasia, and environmental ethics. 🔸 Throughout his career, Pojman wrote more than 30 books and 100 articles, making him one of the most prolific contemporary philosophers focused on ethics and moral philosophy. 🔸 Each chapter in "Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong" ends with thought-provoking discussion questions that have been used in university classrooms across multiple continents. 🔸 The book explores both Western and non-Western ethical traditions, making it one of the earlier mainstream ethics textbooks to incorporate diverse cultural perspectives on morality.