Michael Boylan

An innovative introduction to ethics through philosophy and fiction Ethics: An Introduction with Primary Texts and Short Fictive Narratives offers a distinctive and pedagogically effective approach to ethical inquiry. Fostering a deep understanding of theory and its practical implications, the book begins with an accessible introduction to metaethics, addressing the foundational concepts that ground moral reasoning. It then moves through carefully abridged and newly translated selections from three pillars of Western ethical theory--Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Kant's Groundwork, and Mill's Utilitarianism. These translations have been curated to highlight the central arguments and transitions within each thinker's system, allowing readers to engage directly and critically with major ethical frameworks. What sets this volume apart is its innovative integration of the short fictional narratives and poetry of Michael Boylan, richly illustrating the dimensions of moral philosophy. These narratives serve as applied ethics case studies, encouraging readers to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-life decision-making. Structured exercises, study questions, and feedback sections support active learning, while the philosophical treatment of fictive narrative invites reflection on the nature and power of storytelling in ethical discourse. Authored by a leading scholar with expertise in both ethical theory and creative writing. Ethics: An Introduction with Primary Texts and Short Narratives: Enables direct engagement with core arguments of Virtue Ethics, Deontology, and Utilitarianism Applies the concept of "fictive narrative philosophy" to stimulate reflective and critical ethical reasoning Provides a unified conceptual approach through the Personal and Shared Community Worldview Imperatives Employs a structured, progressive framework that integrates metaethics, normative theory, and applied ethics Supports interdisciplinary learning with content relevant to philosophy, literature, political science, and law Ethics: An Introduction with Primary Texts and Short Narratives is ideal for introductory and intermediate undergraduate courses such as Introduction to Ethics, Ethical Theory, and Applied Ethics in degree programs across the humanities, social sciences, business, pre-professional studies, and other fields where ethical literacy is an essential skill.

This book provides an historical and philosophical overview of Western medicine along with commentary about how past principles affect current problems in biomedicine like genetic engineering, transhumanism, and a commitment to environmentalism. The book spans Ancient, Hippocratic and Galenic texts, Medieval writings, Modern contributions, and contemporary discoveries in the history and philosophy of medicine, including the growing role of technology in the practice of medicine. This book is of essential reading material for scholars and students interested in the history and philosophy of science as it relates to medicine, as well as those interested in the normative consequences of the study of nature for our contemporary world, particularly as it relates to medicine, environmental ethics, and genetic engineering.

The fundamental issues that structure social and political philosophy revolve around the tensions between cooperative (ethical) values and competitive (self-interested) values. This book presents an in-depth examination of how society reacts to these as they move forward in the ancient Greek world. This model uses a methodology that is universal and can be applied to cultures at various historical epochs. The book advocates a "bottom-up" approach that employs a Wittgenstein-style methodology that is exactly detailed as it examines social usage as a sign of what is valued. These tensions are a part of every society that ever existed, and so these discussions are not only relevant from a historical perspective, but also speak to us today.

The Psalms, from the Jewish and Christian Bibles is one of the key texts of world literature. However, there are several impediments for most readers who approach this work, including archaic language translations that do not resonate with contemporary English speakers. The existing translated prosody is also rather stuffy. This book offers a compact apparatus for reading this text which includes discussion of manuscript sources, description of places and events alluded to, which are often beyond the ken of ordinary readers, and provides a practical "content-oriented index", which allows the inquirer to go directly to psalms that address particular practical problems in living-in-the-world, and a select bibliography of current material for further study. These devices will assist the student and the general reader who wish to know more as they explore this historically significant text.

Basic Ethics presents for a wide range of students and other interested readers the questions raised in thinking about ethical problems, the answers offered by moral philosophy, and the means to better integrate into both the reader’s world and personal life. It takes up what the author calls a "worldview theory," which shows readers how to begin with the values and understanding of the world that they already possess in order to transition from there to new levels of increasing ethical awareness. Updates to the third edition include the more thorough integration of feminist ethics into the principal theoretical traditions, a new chapter on the ethical responsibility to be well informed of current events, expanded coverage of human rights, and additional opportunities on how to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one’s own life and about public policy.Key Features:Links personal values to a philosophical treatment of the major ethical theoriesPresents ethics in the context of social/political issues that face our nation and the worldChallenges the student to react to the presented material through critical exercises that may be used as weekly assignments and can form the basis of class discussion and evaluation.Engages the student to think about underlying issues first (in the basic questions) before presenting the most popular solutions (in the basic answers)Invites the reader to make up her own mind on how to formulate an ethical theory that will help her in her own lifeOffers a 16-chapter format to fit into most college-semester calendarsPresents an overall structure that establishes foundational problems in ethical theory in the first section of the book that are variously addressed by the different ethical theories in the second section of the bookHighlights key terms to help the reader grapple with issues raised (which are reviewed and defined in a final Glossary)Includes a final chapter designed to help students comprehend the book in its entirety.Updates to the Third Edition:Highlights new research on human rights and their relevance to ethical thinking and contemporary moral issuesIntegrates feminist ethics into the principal theoretical traditions: virtue ethics, ethical intuitionism, and some versions of deontologyProvides new coverage of "fake news" and the moral responsibility to be well and accurately informed of current eventsExpands opportunities to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one’s own life and about public policy.

Basic Ethics presents for a wide range of students and other interested readers the questions raised in thinking about ethical problems, the answers offered by moral philosophy, and the means to better integrate into both the reader’s world and personal life. It takes up what the author calls a "worldview theory," which shows readers how to begin with the values and understanding of the world that they already possess in order to transition from there to new levels of increasing ethical awareness. Updates to the third edition include the more thorough integration of feminist ethics into the principal theoretical traditions, a new chapter on the ethical responsibility to be well informed of current events, expanded coverage of human rights, and additional opportunities on how to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one’s own life and about public policy.Key Features:Links personal values to a philosophical treatment of the major ethical theoriesPresents ethics in the context of social/political issues that face our nation and the worldChallenges the student to react to the presented material through critical exercises that may be used as weekly assignments and can form the basis of class discussion and evaluation.Engages the student to think about underlying issues first (in the basic questions) before presenting the most popular solutions (in the basic answers)Invites the reader to make up her own mind on how to formulate an ethical theory that will help her in her own lifeOffers a 16-chapter format to fit into most college-semester calendarsPresents an overall structure that establishes foundational problems in ethical theory in the first section of the book that are variously addressed by the different ethical theories in the second section of the bookHighlights key terms to help the reader grapple with issues raised (which are reviewed and defined in a final Glossary)Includes a final chapter designed to help students comprehend the book in its entirety.Updates to the Third Edition:Highlights new research on human rights and their relevance to ethical thinking and contemporary moral issuesIntegrates feminist ethics into the principal theoretical traditions: virtue ethics, ethical intuitionism, and some versions of deontologyProvides new coverage of "fake news" and the moral responsibility to be well and accurately informed of current eventsExpands opportunities to use ethical reasoning in thinking about one’s own life and about public policy.

What is the philosophical voice within literature? Does literature have a voice of its own? Can this voice really be philosophical in its own right? In this book, Michael Boylan argues that some literary works indeed can make their own unique claims in different areas of philosophy. He calls this method fictive narrative philosophy.The first part of the book presents an overview of traditional thinking about philosophy and literature across classical, modern, and contemporary periods. It does not seek to denigrate these methods of studying literature, but rather to ask more of them. The second part then sets out a rigorous definition of what constitutes fictive narrative philosophy. This definition outlines detailed conceptions of the methods of presentation, audience engagement, logical mechanics, and constructional devices of fictive narrative philosophy. The author brings this definition to bear on individual authors and works that can be considered prime examples of fictive narrative philosophy. Finally, the book sets out why and when fictive narratives might be more favorable than traditional philosophical discourse, and how the concept of fictive narrative philosophy can move teaching and scholarship forward in a positive direction.Fictive Narrative Philosophy presents an entirely new and unique approach in which literature can be a form of philosophy. It will appeal to scholars and upper-level students interested in philosophy and literature.

This book offers a unique method for teaching ethics and social/political philosophy by combining primary texts and resource material along with three philosophical novels so that students can apply the abstract principles to real-life situations. A sample syllabus and sample assignments are provided. This second edition contains an additional teacher's manual, guiding instructors in how to effectively put together a course in ethics using fiction. Students often turn-off when confronted with abstract ethical principles, alone. This book allows interaction with philosophical novels that provide real-life situations that mirrors applying normative principles to lived experience. Students will be drawn into this realism and their engagement with the material will be significantly enhanced. This is an innovative textbook for teachers and students of general philosophy, ethics, business ethics, social and political philosophy, as well as students of literature and philosophy.

The Process of Argument: An Introduction is a necessary companion for anyone seeking to engage in successful persuasion: To organize, construct, and communicate arguments. It is both comprehensive and accessible: An authoritative guide to logical thinking and effective communication. The book begins with techniques to improve reading comprehension, including guides on navigating through fake news and internet trolls. Then, readers are taught how to reconstruct deductive, inductive, and abductive presentations so that the logical structure is explicit. And finally, there is a step-by-step guide for responding to these texts via the argumentative essay. Along the way are current examples from social media and elsewhere on the internet along with guides for assessing truth claims in an ever-complicated community worldview. Throughout, are carefully selected reading questions and exercises that will pace readers in order to ensure that the text is securely grasped and successfully applied.Key Features Offers guidance on how to read a text through self-analysis and social criticism Provides a step-by-step procedure for allowing the student to move from reading to reconstruction to being prepared to write an effective argumentative essay Presents truth theory and shows readers how they can helpfully acquaint themselves with a version of realistic, foundational epistemology Offers guidelines and helpful tools on how best to structure an argumentative, pro or con, essay Includes expansive coverage of inductive logic through the use and assessment of statistics Covers abductive logic as it applies to the analysis of narrative in argumentative writing Has up-to-date examples from the media, including from blogs, social media, and television Includes a helpful glossary of all important terms in the book

The Process of Argument: An Introduction is a necessary companion for anyone seeking to engage in successful persuasion: To organize, construct, and communicate arguments. It is both comprehensive and accessible: An authoritative guide to logical thinking and effective communication. The book begins with techniques to improve reading comprehension, including guides on navigating through fake news and internet trolls. Then, readers are taught how to reconstruct deductive, inductive, and abductive presentations so that the logical structure is explicit. And finally, there is a step-by-step guide for responding to these texts via the argumentative essay. Along the way are current examples from social media and elsewhere on the internet along with guides for assessing truth claims in an ever-complicated community worldview. Throughout, are carefully selected reading questions and exercises that will pace readers in order to ensure that the text is securely grasped and successfully applied.Key Features Offers guidance on how to read a text through self-analysis and social criticism Provides a step-by-step procedure for allowing the student to move from reading to reconstruction to being prepared to write an effective argumentative essay Presents truth theory and shows readers how they can helpfully acquaint themselves with a version of realistic, foundational epistemology Offers guidelines and helpful tools on how best to structure an argumentative, pro or con, essay Includes expansive coverage of inductive logic through the use and assessment of statistics Covers abductive logic as it applies to the analysis of narrative in argumentative writing Has up-to-date examples from the media, including from blogs, social media, and television Includes a helpful glossary of all important terms in the book

This is the fourth volume of the Archē series which explores various structures in which a novel might present itself. This novel examines a hypothetical 2nd gunman behind the grassy knoll who shot at John Kennedy in Dallas in 1963, It details how his personal struggles mirror the larger themes of individual liberty and perceived government/social oppression. The novel is told via the presentation mode of discontinuous narrative. The overarching philosophical position concerns the dialectical interactions between the role of a given individual and the society at large. How do these interactions affect free will and determinism? How strong are environmental factors in shaping us?

This book examines the origins of ancient Greek science using the vehicles of blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Careful attention to biomedical writers in the ancient world, as well as to the philosophical and literary work of writers prior to the Hippocratic authors, produce an interesting story of how science progressed and the critical context in which important methodological questions were addressed. The end result is an account that arises from debates that are engaged in and "solved" by different writers. These stopping points form the foundation for Harvey and for modern philosophy of biology. Author Michael Boylan sets out the history of science as well as a critical evaluation based upon principles in the contemporary canon of the philosophy of science—particularly those dealing with the philosophy of biology.

This book offers a unique method for teaching ethics and social/political philosophy by combining primary texts and resource material along with three philosophical novels so that students can apply the abstract principles to real-life situations. A sample syllabus and sample assignments are provided. This second edition contains an additional teacher's manual, guiding instructors in how to effectively put together a course in ethics using fiction. Students often turn-off when confronted with abstract ethical principles, alone. This book allows interaction with philosophical novels that provide real-life situations that mirrors applying normative principles to lived experience. Students will be drawn into this realism and their engagement with the material will be significantly enhanced. This is an innovative textbook for teachers and students of general philosophy, ethics, business ethics, social and political philosophy, as well as students of literature and philosophy.

This cutting-edge volume of original essays features a diverse, international team of prominent scholars examining issues of morality and justice within a global perspective. The chapters are grouped according to an integrative design that progresses from normative principles to normative theories to normative applications. Applications chapters address current significant and provocative topics such as poverty and the global economy; global health; religion; war; and gender, identity, and family. Distinguished philosopher and volume editor Michael Boylan provides a unifying introduction to each section. In addition, an abstract and list of key words provide readers with an informative entry into each reading. An engaging resource for all students of philosophy and politics, The Morality and Global Justice Reader not only offers an essential foundation of global justice and its policy implications, but also aims to inspire readers to positive action for change.

Philosophy: An Innovative Introduction features a unique, engaging approach to introduce students to philosophy. It combines traditional readings and exercises with fictive narratives starring central figures in the history of the field from Plato to Martin Luther King, Jr. The book makes innovative use of compelling short stories from two writers who have prominently combined philosophy and fiction in their work. These narratives illuminate pivotal aspects of the carefully selected classic readings that follow. This gives students two ways to understand the philosophical positions: through indirect argument in fiction and through direct, deductive presentations. Study questions and writing exercises accompany each set of readings and help students grasp the material and create their own arguments.

This informative book is a necessary companion for anyone seeking to uncover the secret of successful persuasion: to organize, construct, and communicate arguments. It is at once comprehensive and accessible, an authoritative guide to logical thinking and effective communication. First, the text defines the nature and uses of argument, explaining how to read argument carefully. Such analysis then requires the student to reconstruct arguments in his or her own words. Finally, the reader is taught how to create a critical, reasoned response, thus constructing his or her own argument. To increase its accessibility and expand its range of application, Critical Inquiry uses (in addition to textual examples) advertisements from print media as 'texts' for applying its principles to subjects outside the traditional mode of academic presentation. Throughout, carefully selected reading questions and exercises pace the reader and ensure that the material is securely grasped and successfully applied.

In this concise, single-authored text, renowned scholar and professor Michael Boylan examines the moral justifications underlying key global justice issues and provides students with the analytical tools to approach those issues critically. Introductory chapters establish a thorough but accessible foundation in theory and moral justification, and subsequent chapters apply those concepts to key areas of global concern: poverty; public health; race, gender, and sexual orientation; democracy and social/political dialog; globalization; the environment; war and terrorism; and immigrants and refugees. For easy reference and review, each chapter includes key terms, critical applied reasoning exercises (CARE), and problems and thought experiments perfect for class discussions or writing exercises. The appendix (Getting Involved) guides students in putting ethical principles to work.

T-Rx is a political organizer for causes ranging from the War in Vietnam to Civil Rights in the "1960s." However, the world of protest for progressive causes can have snares of its own. T-Rx is faced with powerful forces that threaten his life's mission and his personal safety. How will he make it through? The answer is as relevant to our time as it was to his.

What is the philosophical voice within literature? Does literature have a voice of its own? Can this voice really be philosophical in its own right? In this book, Michael Boylan argues that some literary works indeed can make their own unique claims in different areas of philosophy. He calls this method fictive narrative philosophy.The first part of the book presents an overview of traditional thinking about philosophy and literature across classical, modern, and contemporary periods. It does not seek to denigrate these methods of studying literature, but rather to ask more of them. The second part then sets out a rigorous definition of what constitutes fictive narrative philosophy. This definition outlines detailed conceptions of the methods of presentation, audience engagement, logical mechanics, and constructional devices of fictive narrative philosophy. The author brings this definition to bear on individual authors and works that can be considered prime examples of fictive narrative philosophy. Finally, the book sets out why and when fictive narratives might be more favorable than traditional philosophical discourse, and how the concept of fictive narrative philosophy can move teaching and scholarship forward in a positive direction.Fictive Narrative Philosophy presents an entirely new and unique approach in which literature can be a form of philosophy. It will appeal to scholars and upper-level students interested in philosophy and literature.

This book offers a unique method for teaching ethics and social/political philosophy by combining primary texts and resource material along with three philosophical novels so that students can apply the abstract principles to real-life situations. Boylan provides a preface to introduce instructors in how to effectively put together a course in ethics using fiction. A sample syllabus and sample assignments are provided. Students often turn-off when confronted with abstract ethical principles, alone. This book allows interaction with philosophical novels that provide real-life situations that mirrors applying normative principles to lived experience. Students will be drawn into this realism and their engagement with the material will be significantly enhanced. This is an innovative textbook for teachers and students of general philosophy, ethics, business ethics, social and political philosophy, as well as students of literature and philosophy.