Liezl van Zyl - Böcker

Virtue, Narrative, and Self connects two philosophical areas of study that have long been treated as distinct: virtue theory and narrative accounts of personal identity. Chapters address several important issues and neglected themes at the intersection of these research areas. Specific examples include the role of narrative in the identification, differentiation, and cultivation of virtue, the nature of practical reasoning and moral competence, and the influence of life’s narrative structure on our conceptions of what it means to live and act well. This volume demonstrates how recent work from the philosophy of mind and action concerning narrativity and our understanding of the self can shed new light on questions about the nature of virtue, practical wisdom, and human flourishing. This book will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working in virtue theory, moral philosophy, philosophy of mind and action, and moral education.

Virtue, Narrative, and Self connects two philosophical areas of study that have long been treated as distinct: virtue theory and narrative accounts of personal identity. Chapters address several important issues and neglected themes at the intersection of these research areas. Specific examples include the role of narrative in the identification, differentiation, and cultivation of virtue, the nature of practical reasoning and moral competence, and the influence of life’s narrative structure on our conceptions of what it means to live and act well. This volume demonstrates how recent work from the philosophy of mind and action concerning narrativity and our understanding of the self can shed new light on questions about the nature of virtue, practical wisdom, and human flourishing. This book will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working in virtue theory, moral philosophy, philosophy of mind and action, and moral education.

This volume provides a clear and accessible overview of central concepts, positions, and arguments in virtue ethics today. While it focuses primarily on Aristotelian virtue ethics, it also includes discussion of alternative forms of virtue ethics (sentimentalism and pluralism) and competing normative theories (consequentialism and deontology).The first six chapters are organized around central questions in normative ethics that are of particular concern to virtue ethicists and their critics: What is virtue ethics?What makes a trait a virtue?Is there a link between virtue and happiness?What is involved in being well-motivated?What is practical wisdom?What makes an action right?The last four chapters focus on important challenges or objections to virtue ethics: Can virtue ethics be applied to particular moral problems?Does virtue ethics ultimately rely on moral principles? Can it withstand the situationist critique?What are the prospects for an environmental virtue ethics?

This volume provides a clear and accessible overview of central concepts, positions, and arguments in virtue ethics today. While it focuses primarily on Aristotelian virtue ethics, it also includes discussion of alternative forms of virtue ethics (sentimentalism and pluralism) and competing normative theories (consequentialism and deontology).The first six chapters are organized around central questions in normative ethics that are of particular concern to virtue ethicists and their critics: What is virtue ethics?What makes a trait a virtue?Is there a link between virtue and happiness?What is involved in being well-motivated?What is practical wisdom?What makes an action right?The last four chapters focus on important challenges or objections to virtue ethics: Can virtue ethics be applied to particular moral problems?Does virtue ethics ultimately rely on moral principles? Can it withstand the situationist critique?What are the prospects for an environmental virtue ethics?

Is compassion an appropriate motive for ending life? Can euthanasia ever be justified as an act of benevolence? Can euthanasia allow a person to die with dignity? Death and Compassion offers a systematic exploration of the role of the virtues within medical ethics and practice ” presenting a critique of principle-based ethical systems within the context of modern medicine. Focusing specifically on terminal care and the ethical problems surrounding euthanasia, and drawing on Aristotle's teleological account of the virtues, the author develops an argument in favour of a systematic incorporation of the virtues of compassion, benevolence and respectfulness in medical practice - transcending the shortcomings of principles of beneficence, non-maleficence and respect for patient autonomy. By presenting new ways of conceptualising and reasoning about ethical issues such as the termination of life-support, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, Death and Compassion offers new insights for a radical rethink of the dominant mode of thinking in contemporary bioethics and the practice of modern medicine.

This book delves deeply into modern surrogacy arrangements, responding to both practical and ethical critiques by offering a radically new model for surrogate motherhood.