How to be Good: or How to Be Moral and Virtuous in a Wicked World

Description

What is goodness? Is goodness achievable, and if so, how? If being a good person is a matter of doing the right thing, then what is the right thing to do? Is it acting rationally, promoting happiness, exercising moderation in all things or respecting the freedom of others, or is it somehow a concoction of all these abilities, wisely adjusted to suit circumstances? In this instructive, entertaining and often humorous book, Gary Cox, best-selling author of How to Be an Existentialist and How to Be a Philosopher, investigates the phenomenon of goodness and what, if anything, it is to be a good person and a paragon of virtue. Part easygoing exploration of the age-old subject of moral philosophy, part personal development and improvement manual, How to Be Good carefully leads you on a fascinating journey through the often strange and surprising world of ethics. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1 WHAT IS GOODNESS? Goodness and Being Good Goodness and God Goodness and Philosophy 2 ACHIEVING GOODNESS Goodness and Determinism Goodness and Egoism Theories of Goodness in General Goodness and Duty Goodness and Happiness Goodness and the Golden Mean Goodness and Freedom 3 THE REALITY OF GOODNESS Meta-ethics Moral Objectivism Moral Subjectivism Back to Moral Objectivism: Just a Little Moore 4 GOODNESS AT ISSUE The Abortion Issue Humans, Persons, Speciesism and Morally Relevant Characteristics The Animal Rights Issue Non-human Animal Persons 5 CONCLUDING REMARKS How to Be Good BIBLIOGRAPHY OTHER MEDIA REFERENCES FURTHER READING Index