A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox

Anthony Weston did a superb job of describing the complex realm of Ethics. And in case you feel that the chapters are too easy there are "For Review" sections that provide comprehension-based questions which highlight the main points. Then there are "Exercises and Notes" sections that provide case study's and further research into each topic. All in all a well-rounded textbook for any Ethics beginner.

I am a Community College professor. I teach many Critical Thinking classes in the English Department. In those classes, I cover Ethical Theories by introducting my students to the concepts of Egoism, Kantian Theories, Utilitarianism and Care Ethics (I know there are others, but we focus on those four). Knowledge of these theories help my students to think critically about situations in their lives, the world, and how other people behave. The theories compliment many of my other assignments. However, I teach these theories on my own without any book as reference. But Weston's book might change all of that. I have used other books by Anthony Weston in other classes, so when I came across this book, I bought it immediately. I have read through Chapter 8, and I knew I found a book that I could use in my class room. Yes, I am writing a review without finishing the book. It is that good. First, Weston's approach to organization is different than most ethics text books. He really wants to help the reader (usually the student) become active in their approach to ethics. It is more than just a bunch of theories--it is possible to put these theories into practice. Although Weston discusses the theories I mentioned above, there are no dedicated chapters just for them. Instead, the book is about how to think about ethics in the real world. He breaks the traditional classifications into a more "student friendly" approach. Instead of a chapter on just Egoism, he offers a chapter called "The Ethics of Happiness," which covers Hedonism and Utilitarianism. This will really help connect the core ideas, the foundations of the theories, together for my students. Each chapter offers readings (sometimes from the philosopher in question and other times by various professional writers). I think the best part of the chapter comes at the end of each chapter. He really challenges the student in terms of understanding the concepts within the chapter. It also helps stimulate class discussion and helps to create written assignments. In fact, one question he offered in chapter 1 was so good, I modified it and used it in my English class. At its core, the question was about John Rawls and the "Veil of Ignorance." But my students did not have to know that to apply their skills learned in my class. It ended up creating a fantastic discussion. The connections made between critical thinking and the study of ethics becomes very clear early in Weston's book. I am convinced he is right, and I plan on adopting many of his ideas and techniques into my class room. This is definitely a different approach to the traditional modes of ethical study. I could continue to rave about this book--it has the potential to connect philosophical ideas and topics taught in English classes. I try to teach my students the connections to being critical thinkers and understanding ethical theories on many different levels. This book reinforces that idea. From the standpoint of a col

I submitted the following review for a class I was in, but thought it might be helpful to people here as well. I cut and pasted from word and not everything transfered, though I think you can get the main idea. Anthony Weston is a professor of philosophy, environmental studies, and global studies at Elon University in North Carolina . Weston received his BA from Macalester College and his MA and PhD from the University of Michigan . He has authored several books including, A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox, A Rulebook for Arguments, A Practical Companion to Ethics, Toward Better Problems, Back to Earth, and An Invitation to Environmental Philosophy . A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox, the focus of this review, is a clear and comprehensive introduction to ethical reasoning and application. Weston states the following concerning his aim in this work. "The aim of this book is therefore to offer you the skills--the tools--to make more creative and constructive thinking possible in ethics as well. You should leave this book better able to understand what is at stake with moral issues, quicker to seek out the factual or conceptual or imaginative resources you need to make progress on them, and better able to contribute constructively, in both word and deed, to the ongoing debate about them. In a word, this book is meant as a contribution to your ethical intelligence--recognizing, as psychologists are now telling us, that "intelligence" takes many forms besides the mere recall of facts. A well-rounded person needs them all." In other words, A 21st Century Ethical Toolbox is concerned with ethical reasoning (much more than ethical theory), along with application of ethical reasoning skills in real-life situations and on real-life controversial issues without seeking the all too common "pro" and "con" scapegoats often used in philosophical and ethical debates and conversations. Weston accomplishes his aims in this work through providing sections on "Getting Started," "Values," "Tools for Critical Thinking in Ethics," "Tools for Creativity in Ethics," "Putting Ethics Into Action," "Contemporary Issues," and "Expanding the Circle." Each of these sections contains two or more chapters written in easy to understand language that address issues in a detailed way using bold headings, explanations of key terms, presentation of varying questions, helpful real life examples and excerpts from other works, along with "Exercises and Notes" which help in practical application of material mentioned in the chapter. Of particular note, is the way in which the entire first half of the book focuses on ethical reasoning before action and major issues are addressed. There are several things mentioned in this book that I agree with Weston on. The first major point is in the very first paragraph on page one and reads, "Abortion, capital punishment, animal rights--on issue after issue we hear only the extremes." The truth of this statement is profound. Ask somebo

We are using this as text book for classes attained by local members of the community as well as community colledge students. This is a great guide to teach us how to think critically on difficult issues facing citizens today. If your community is involved in Philosopher-Citizen Project, by all means get involved.

Most introductory ethics textbooks focus on the usual suspects: relativism, egoism, and the major competing ethical theories. In most, a discussion of ethical reasoning is limited to the first chapter of the book. In this expanded version of his previously published *A Practical Companion to Ethics*, Weston provides us with an introduction to ethics that places ethical *reasoning* at the forefront. The traditional material is also given some air time, but always in line with Weston's goal of teaching his readers how to *think* ethically.Weston's book is a treasure for anyone coming to ethics in a formal manner for the first time. Much of what we see concerning "ethics" is, at best, intellectually sloppy. Weston's book provides us with a set of skills that can be adopted to make ethical reasoning a lot less sloppy, to the sure advantage of everyone. Some of the topic areas include: use of loaded language, how to reframe ethical problems, how to reconclie conflicting values, how to keep ethical debate from bogging down in the mire, how to use theories to make ethical decisions, and how to form novel solutions to ethical problems. His pedagogy is strengthened by his focus, in the last section of the book, on several current ethical issues, which are analyzed using the skills Weston provides in the earlier sections.Some say skills can't be taught by reading, but Weston's book comes awfully close to putting the lie to this old saw. The activities at the end of each chapter provide both students, teachers, and laypersons with much meat on which to chew, making this an ideal textbook on ethical reasoning. Anyone interested in thinking better about ethics, which should be everyone, can profit greatly from this book, whatever their experience. But for those coming to the field for the first time, Weston's book is indispensible.