Philosophical Ethics: Theory and Practice - Paperback

by John G. Messerly (Author)

This work investigates the strengths and weaknesses of major ethical theories of the Western philosophical tradition including: egoism, relativism, divine command theory; natural law; social contract, deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, and evolutionary ethics. The book also considers moral problems like abortion, euthanasia, and biotechnology. In addition, the book discusses death and its possible defeat by future technologies. It concludes by outlining a view of the meaning of life.

Author Biography

John G. Messerly PhD is an Affiliate Member of the Evolution, Complexity, and Cognition Group (localized at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel), and an affiliate scholar of the Institute for Ethics & Emerging Technologies. He taught for many years at the University of Texas at Austin. His most recent books are: The Meaning of Life: Religious, Philosophical, Transhumanist, and Scientific Perspectives (2013) and Who Are We? Religious, Philosophical, Scientific and Transhumanist Theories Of Human Nature (2015).