By Laurence Thomas (NHC Fellow, 1982–83) Laurence Thomas addresses two main questions in this philosophical exploration of morality: What constitutes a moral life? How does one acquire and maintain a good moral character? In answering these questions, he maintains that social interaction is the thread from which the fabric of moral character is woven, and … Continued
By Owen Flanagan (NHC Fellow, 2015–16) The Geography of Morals is a work of extraordinary ambition: an indictment of the parochialism of Western philosophy, a comprehensive dialogue between anthropology, empirical moral psychology, behavioral economics, and cross-cultural philosophy, and a deep exploration of the opportunities for self, social, and political improvement provided by world philosophy. We live … Continued
By Tom Regan (NHC Fellow, 1984–85) Canonized as the "plain man's philosopher" and the "defender of common sense" G. E. Moore is one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. But Moore's role as Bloombury's prophet has remained a mystery. How could the "plain man's philosopher" influence those legendary members of the Bloomsbury … Continued
By Timothy Kircher (NHC Fellow, 2007–08) This study evaluates the way Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) assessed humanist moral philosophy in Renaissance Italy. It helps us understand not only the allure of Renaissance humanism, but also its shortcomings, through the writings of a leading humanist of the time. Alberti’s writings employ irony in order to illustrate … Continued
Edited by John M. Doris (NHC Fellow, 2008–09) The Moral Psychology Handbook offers a survey of contemporary moral psychology, integrating evidence and argument from philosophy and the human sciences. The chapters cover major issues in moral psychology, including moral reasoning, character, moral emotion, positive psychology, moral rules, the neural correlates of ethical judgment, and the attribution … Continued
By Frank Mort (NHC Fellow, 2001–02) A series of spectacular scandals profoundly disturbed London life during the 1950s in ways that had major national consequences. High and low society collided in a city of social and sexual extremes. Patrician men-about-town, young independent women, go-ahead entrepreneurs, Westminster politicians, queer men, and West Indian newcomers played a … Continued
By Holly M. Smith (NHC Fellow, 2013–14) Moral theories are called on to play both a theoretical and a practical role. In their theoretical role they provide accounts of what features make actions right or wrong. In their practical role, they provide a standard by which agents can guide their own conduct. Although it is … Continued
Edited by Gary Lynn Comstock (NHC Fellow, 2007–08; 2008–09) and Mylan Engel, Jr. Edited by Mylan Engel Jr. and Gary Lynn Comstock, this book employs different ethical lenses, including classical deontology, libertarianism, commonsense morality, virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and the capabilities approach, to explore the philosophical basis for the strong animal rights view, which holds that … Continued
By Bernard Gert (NHC Fellow, 2001–02) Moral problems do not always come in the form of great social controversies. More often, the moral decisions we make are made quietly, constantly, and within the context of everyday activities and quotidian dilemmas. Indeed, these smaller decisions are based on a moral foundation that few of us ever … Continued
Edited by Tom Regan (NHC Fellow, 1984–85) and Tom L. Beauchamp A collection of original essays by leading moral philosophers, written specifically for students with no prior background in ethics. Focusing on the major ethical issues of the day, the essays cover problems such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, famine, war, suicide, the environment and … Continued