In this Book
- Ethical Communication: Moral Stances in Human Dialogue
- Book
- 2013
- Published by: University of Missouri Press
summary
Proponents of professional ethics recognize the importance of theory but also know that the field of ethics is best understood through real-world applications. This book introduces students and practitioners to important ethical concepts through the lives of major thinkers ranging from Aristotle to Ayn Rand, John Stuart Mill to the Dalai Lama.
Some two dozen contributors approach media ethics from five perspectives—altruistic, egoistic, autonomous, legalist, and communitarian—and use real people as examples to convey ethical concepts as something more than mere abstractions. Readers see how Confucius represents group loyalty; Gandhi, nonviolent action; Mother Teresa, the spirit of sacrifice. Each profile provides biographical material, the individual’s basic ethical position and contribution, and insight into how his or her moral teachings can help the modern communicator. The roster of thinkers is gender inclusive, ethnically diverse, and spans a broad range of time and geography to challenge the misperception that moral theory is dominated by Western males.
These profiles challenge us not to give up on moral thinking in our day but to take seriously the abundance of good ideas in ethics that the human race provides. They speak to real-life struggles by applying to such trials the lasting quality of foundational thought. Many of the root values to which they appeal are cross-cultural, even universal.
Exemplifying these five ethical perspectives through more than two dozen mentors provides today’s communicators with a solid grounding of key ideas for improving discussion and attaining social progress in their lives and work. These profiles convey the diversity of means to personal and social betterment through worthwhile ideas that truly make ethics come alive.
Table of Contents
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- Title Page, Copyright
- pp. 2-5
- Introduction
- pp. 1-8
- 2. Jesus: Loving Neighbors
- pp. 18-24
- 3. John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism
- pp. 25-32
- 4. Carol Gilligan: Ethics of Care
- pp. 33-39
- 7. Aristotle: Self-Development
- pp. 55-60
- 9. Machiavelli: Pragmatic Realism
- pp. 68-73
- 10. Camus: The Rebellious Spirit
- pp. 74-80
- 11. Kautilya of India: Social Egoism
- pp. 81-85
- 12. Ayn Rand: Rational Self-Interest
- pp. 86-92
- 14. John Locke: Natural Rights
- pp. 102-108
- 17. Hannah Arendt: Public as Authority
- pp. 121-126
- 18. Plato: Elite Norms
- pp. 129-135
- 19. Muhammad: Honor-Centered Morality
- pp. 136-144
- 20. Immanuel Kant: Importance of Duty
- pp. 145-150
- 21. Moses: Deontological Norms
- pp. 151-157
- 23. Confucius: Ethics of Character
- pp. 167-172
- 24. Mohandas Gandhi: Fellowship of Power
- pp. 173-179
- 25. Karl Marx: Transcending Alienation
- pp. 180-185
- 26. John Dewey: Democratic Conversation
- pp. 186-192
- 28. Emmanuel Levinas: Priority of the Other
- pp. 200-206
- Contributors
- pp. 207-209
- Back Cover
- p. 233
Additional Information
ISBN
9780826271846
Related ISBN(s)
9780826218391, 9780826218469
MARC Record
OCLC
742328016
Pages
231
Launched on MUSE
2014-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No
Copyright
2009