Good Life

Burton Porter received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and his Ph.D. from St. Andrews university, Scotland, with graduate study at Oxford University. He has taught at various institutions including Russell Sage College and Drexel University, and he has held positions as Department Chair and Dean of Arts and Sciences. At present he is Professor of Philosophy at Western New England University, having taught previously as Visiting Professor at Mount Holyoke College. He received the award of Outstanding Educator of America.In addition to The Good Life, Burton Porter is the author of several other academic works, as well as novels, plays, and children's poetry. His books include The Great Perhaps, What the Tortoise Taught Us, Philosophy through Film, The Head and the Heart, The Voice of Reason, Philosophy through Fiction and Film, Religion and Reason, Personal Philosophy, Reasons for Living, Philosophy: A Literary and Conceptual Approach, and Deity and Morality.

“Much more than a standard text on normative theories, this book lends itself to a thorough introductory examination of the field of ethics. . . . In particular, the evaluation discussions are excellent, as they draw attention to problems in the theories and arguments in a way that aids in teaching students to craft arguments themselves. Too many students think it is sufficient to disagree. The evaluation sections help focus how to critically examine a theory.”

• Table of Contents PrefaceAbout the AuthorIntroduction The Nature of EthicsThe Standard of Reasonableness1. Putting Ethics in Its PlaceThe Role of Ethics within PhilosophyRelationships to Other BranchesEthics and ScienceThe Naturalistic FallacyEthics and ReligionPlato’s EuthyphroEthics and PsychologyPsychological EgoismReview Questions2. Free Will and DeterminismDo We Have Free Choice?Fatalism and PredestinationSocial Scientific DeterminismThe Compelling Factors The Libertarian ReplyArguments for Free WillHard and Soft DeterminismThe Individual in the Causal ChainReview Questions 3. The Challenge of RelativismAre Values Relative to Our Society?Ethics as Subjective and CulturalSources of RelativismSocial Science and Multiculturalism ObjectivismThe Counter Arguments Are Some Actions Intrinsically Valuable?The Universal Declaration of Human RightsReview Questions II. Ideals in Living4. Hedonism as the GoodEthical HedonismPursuing Pleasure or HappinessIndividualistic HedonismThe Cyrenaics and EpicureansUniversalistic Hedonism – Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill A Critical AssessmentThe Value of HappinessReview Questions5. Self-RealizationDeveloping Our PotentialitiesBecoming Fully ActualizedDefining the Self in Time and SpaceFlaws and Weaknesses Realizing Ourselves as Human Beings Is Human Nature Good? AristotleThe Golden MeanReview Questions6. EvolutionismThe Meaning of EvolutionEvolution and ReligionSocial DarwinismThe Fittest and the BestSpencer’s Evolutionary EthicThe Breadth of LifeA Critical AppraisalEvaluating Evolutionism OverallReview Questions7. The Ethic of DutyJudging the Worth of ConductThe Right and the GoodDeontology vs. TeleologyIntention Behind ActionThe Kantian EthicFollowing Principles The Categorical and Practical ImperativesAre There Universal Values?Review Questions8. The Teachings of ReligionJudaism – The Old TestamentDivine CommandsChristianity – The New TestamentConcepts of Love and JusticeIslam The Five Pillars of FaithBuddhismThe Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold PathReview Questions9. Virtue EthicsAncient GreeceThe Noble PersonMedieval PurityCardinal Virtues and Deadly SinsThe Modern Perspective Character and Moral Sentiments Feminist Virtue EthicsPersonal Caring Rather Than Moral Rules Review Questions 10. ExistentialismThe Human Condition Anxiety and AlienationExistence Precedes Essence PhenomenologyThe Seminal FiguresNietzsche and KierkegaardModern ExistentialismJean-Paul SartreReview QuestionsIII. Contemporary Moral Issues11. Contraception and AbortionArtificial ContraceptivesThe Conflict over AbortionWhen Does the Fetus Become a Person? Pro-Life v. Pro-ChoiceReview Questions 12. Punishment and the Death PenaltyPersonal ResponsibilityMass IncarcerationRival Theories of PunishmentArguments Surrounding Capital PunishmentReview Questions13. Sexual EthicsDoes Consent Legitimize Any Private Act? Moral and Immoral Sex The Homosexuality ControversyAre Gay Sexual Relations Wrong?Review Questions 14. The Natural EnvironmentIs Nature Good? Our Relationship to the Natural World Animal WelfareUsing Animals for Food, Testing, Clothing, and EntertainmentReview Questions 15. Racism and SexismShould We Ever Generalize About People? The Remedy of Affirmative ActionDiscrimination Based On SexForms of AbuseReview QuestionsAfterwordGlossary of Philosophic TermsNotesIndex