Introduction
Welcome to “Ethical Explorations: Moral Dilemmas in a Universe of Possibilities”. You are about to embark on an engaging journey through the broad and diverse landscape of ethical philosophy. This is not merely a textbook; it’s an interactive guide designed to expand your understanding of ethics and stimulate your critical thinking skills.
Ethics, often considered as a subfield of philosophy, serves as a guiding compass for human conduct. It explores the intricacies of moral decision-making and poses questions about right and wrong, justice and injustice, virtue and vice. This book will provide you with a detailed exploration of these questions, offering a comprehensive overview of the core theories and principles that have shaped ethical thought.
The structure of the book is designed to progressively deepen your understanding of the subject. Each chapter introduces a unique branch of ethical philosophy, beginning with the foundational ideas of Plato’s Cave and gradually transitioning into more complex theories, such as utilitarianism, deontological ethics, virtue ethics, and social contract theory. The discussion then expands to more recent theories like Marxism, Nietzsche’s perspectivism, and the ethics of Simone de Beauvoir, among others.
You will also find that this book actively engages with contemporary issues and debates, drawing out the relevance of ancient wisdom to our modern world. There are dedicated sections on environmental ethics, bioethics, and the implications of race and racism, which provide valuable insights into some of the most pressing ethical challenges of our time.
Every chapter features an engaging narrative story that illustrates the theoretical principles in a relatable and accessible way. These narratives are complemented by comprehensive “Big Ideas” sections, which further detail the concepts presented in the story. Each chapter concludes with a set of discussion questions designed to encourage critical reflection and a glossary to reinforce your understanding of key terms and concepts.
Finally, as an open access (CC-BY) textbook, this resource is available to everyone. It democratizes the study of moral philosophy, making the subject accessible to all, regardless of their background or resources.
I encourage you to approach this book with an open mind and a readiness to engage with the ethical complexities it presents. Use it not just to gain knowledge, but also as a tool to sharpen your ability to think critically about moral dilemmas in our dynamic, diverse universe of possibilities.
Finally, I welcome feedback or comments. Just shoot me an e-mail at brendapshea@gmail.com.
Brendan Shea
Overview
To make our explorations manageable and memorable, the book is divided into twelve distinctive chapters. Each one takes on a particular field of ethical thought, from the ancient to the modern, the Western to the non-Western, and everything in between.
Chapter 1 sets the stage, introducing you to the grand theater of ethics through the lens of Plato’s Cave. A tale that grapples with our perception of reality and encourages us to step out of the shadows of ignorance into the sunlight of knowledge. A fitting start, I’d say, to our ethical explorations.
In Chapter 2, we joust with Utilitarianism, a school of thought that argues for the greatest good for the greatest number. We’ll leap into the world of princesses and plumbers, embarking on a quest to understand the balance between pleasure and pain.
Chapter 3 invites us to the universe of Deontological Ethics, where the emphasis is on duty, rules, and moral obligations. Here, through the story of a golem, we’ll discover the principles that guide our actions, regardless of the consequences.
Virtue Ethics is our focus in Chapter 4, where the character becomes king. We’ll trek through various landscapes—from Aristotle’s Greece to Confucius’s China—to grasp the essential role of personal virtue in ethical decisions.
Chapter 5 sees us journey to the cosmos, where we unravel the mysteries of Natural Law Theory. Together, we’ll encounter medieval scholars, doctrines of effects, and theories of war.
In Chapter 6, we join hands to form a Social Contract, as we delve into the principles that bind societies and dictate justice. Here, we’ll navigate everything from the state of nature to debates in political philosophy.
We revolutionize our understanding of ethics in Chapter 7, as we explore Marxism. This journey takes us from capitalist critiques to debates on healthcare reform, through the lens of a revolutionary prelude.
Chapter 8 sees us questioning, rebelling, and breaking moral molds with Nietzsche. With a digital Dionysus as our guide, we’ll traverse the challenging terrain of value creation and moral perspectives.
In Chapter 9, we follow Simone De Beauvoir’s path, exploring the entanglements of feminism, existentialism, and ambiguity, all through the transformation of a teenage werewolf.
Chapter 10 beckons us into the thought-provoking world of race and racism, guided by luminaries like Du Bois, King, and Appiah. We’ll find ourselves questioning established norms, sparking dialogues about civil disobedience and the intersections of race and class.
Environmental Ethics takes center stage in Chapter 11, where we’ll confront pressing ecological concerns and explore varied perspectives on the human-nature relationship, all through the haunting melody of a silent singer.
Finally, in Chapter 12, we venture into the cutting-edge world of Bioethics, which spans from ancient oaths to modern dilemmas of genetic engineering and public health ethics, with an undying vampire doctor as our guide.
About the Book
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching ethics at the University of Illinois, Winona State University, and Rochester Community and Technical College. I’ve learned as much from my students as they have from me, and these accumulated insights, anecdotes, and perspectives have all contributed to the creation of “Ethical Explorations”.
My passion for philosophy extends well beyond the classroom walls. It spills over into my other love: the richly imaginative realms of science fiction and fantasy. I’ve spent many hours (more than I care to admit, in fact) analyzing and writing about philosophical themes hidden within the narratives of books such as “Twilight”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Jurassic Park”, “The Princess Bride”, and more. These stories, and the ethical conundrums they raise, inspired the unique narrative approach we’re taking in this book.
Now, about the nuts and bolts of how this book came together. I’ve spent more than two decades scribbling lecture notes, delivering presentations, and engaging in spirited debates. More recently, by taking advantage of new generative AI tools such as Open AI’s GPT-4 and Google Bard to do much of the work traditionally done by publishing companies (I used to be an editor at one, long ago), I’ve been able to transform these extensive lecture notes into the textbook you see here. I hope you enjoy it, and welcome any feedback you have!
Ethical Explorations is open-access, meaning it’s available for free, for you, your friends, your classmates, and indeed anyone curious about ethics. However, please remember that it is not for commercial use. I strongly believe in the democratization of knowledge, and this is my small contribution towards that ideal.
To support your learning journey, I’ve also prepared a series of video lectures (at https://tinyurl.com/EthicalExplorations) to accompany each chapter. These videos will act as your personal seminar, allowing you to delve deeper into the concepts at your own pace. To consolidate your understanding, a Quizlet study deck is also available to test your knowledge and keep the concepts fresh in your mind.
“Ethical Explorations” is for everyone and anyone interested in exploring the world of ethics. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned scholar, a freshman in college, or someone who stumbled upon this subject during a late-night internet browse. I’ve tried to make the material engaging, accessible, and even fun. So, wherever you are in your philosophical journey, I invite you to join me in this exploration. Let’s dive in!
About the Author
Brendan Shea is Instructor of philosophy and computer science at Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a graduate certificate in instructional design. In addition, Brendan has a graduate certificate in computer programming from Harvard University Extension and a bachelor’s degree in English from Winona State University.
Brendan’s research and teaching expertise is in the areas of logic, philosophy of science, and applied ethics, with a particular focus on bioethics and the ethics of technology. He also has competence in the areas of history of science and technology, philosophy of religion, political philosophy, and data science.
Throughout his career, Brendan has taught a wide range of courses in philosophy, including bioethics, logic, ethics, philosophy of religion, and introductory philosophy, as well as courses in computer science, humanities, and non-credit professional development. He has received consistently high ratings on student evaluations, and was named Outstanding Educator of the Year at RCTC in 2017-2018. Brendan has also served on various committees at the college, including the Outstanding Educator Selection Committee, the Academic Affairs and Standards Council, and the Faculty Instructional Development Grant Committee.
In addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities, Brendan has published numerous articles in philosophy journals and presented at conferences. He serves as a Resident Fellow at the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science and as a public member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee at Mayo Clinic-Rochester. Brendan has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including serving as vice president and president of the Minnesota Philosophical Society.
About Thoughtful Noodle Books
Thoughtful Noodle Books is a (fictional) imprint for (real!) books written by Brendan Shea. Here at Thoughtful Noodle Books, our mission is to make philosophy and computer science textbooks accessible to everyone. All of our works are available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license, which means that you can use, modify, and share them for any purpose. I (Brendan) invite you to use and adapt this textbook however you see fit.
More generally, I believe that open-access works have several advantages over traditional textbooks. The most obvious benefit is that they are free, which helps to reduce the cost of education. Additionally, open-access works are more easily adapted and updated, so that instructors can quickly incorporate new research and technologies into their courses. Finally, open-access works are more transparent and collaborative, which encourages student engagement and allows for more diverse perspectives.
https://brendanpshea.github.io/thoughtful_noodle/
