Great Traditions in Ethics

by Theodore C. Denise, Nicholas White, Sheldon P. Peterfreund

New to ethical theory? No problem. GREAT TRADITIONS IN ETHICS-the standard historical anthology for introducing ethical theory-makes it easy to explore the many primary sources that contribute to the canon of ethical theory. Chapter introductions provide biographical, historical, and theoretical contexts, and classic reading selections are supplemented by comments that will help you understand the works. This anthology will challenge you to critically engage the most crucial ideas, thinkers, and readings in the history of ethical theory.

Genres: Philosophy, Textbooks, Reference, Nonfiction, School

361 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Theodore C. Denise was professor emeritus of philosophy at Syracuse University.

Reviews

[Corin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first edition (1953) with 362 pages. It would be interesting to read the latest edition with their revisions and added chapters.


The book focuses on the fundamental question of what is good and what constitutes the moral life, and later on moves towards the theoretical definition of goodness and how the study of ethics can cultivate "autonomy of mind" or simply to be able to think for one's self.

It samples well-focused texts complete with supplementary reading selections (a list of chapters and pages to other books) as well as questions that encourage further discussion and commentary on the texts.

This is not a comprehensive textbook on philosophy, nor is it a good basis for generalizing what the major philosophical movements were all about. However, it's still a good place to start if you know nothing about philosophy since it points readers to other essential books by influential philosophers. The book's goal was to compile ideas of "what is moral" despite conflicting beliefs and attitudes, the lack of any real/tangible god, and 'the indefinability of the good' (that makes this subject all the more confusing). It argues that all this philosophizing can be relevant in the practical world.

I personally read it as a book on how humanity dealt with the sadness of existence and his search for happiness and contentment throughout the course of history.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive review of the great white male philosophical thinkers; ending at about 1960ish. For someone interested in philosophy, not too dry and easy to read.

[Aaron Records · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is made for, I think this is a quality textbook for an ethics course that heavily discusses theory rather than application. I found myself wishing that the editors wrote more descriptive intros to each chapter and discussed at least some applied ethics, but they only do so in the appendix. I did learn a lot from the book, but I also liked reading Michael Sandel's Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? far more because it discussed how the philosophy of people like John Rawls and Aristotle actually come up in real life situations. With this book that is largely left to you as a reader to supply and come up with on your own. In short, I wouldn't suggest reading this unless you need to for a class. Otherwise, actually read the works written by the philosophers like Plato, Epictetus, Sartre, and Bernard Williams. You'll end up with a better understanding than this book will give you. The only downside is it would take a long, long time to read the philosophy of all the people this book discusses.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well chosen excerpts from great and notable philosophers.

[Jeff Rudisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Fourth Edition 1980,
I took Ethics at ISU.

[Mark]

This was a class text of mine (Summer 1999) and was also the text for Jeffrey Carr's class for which I TAd (2002?)

[Esther Kamara]

i would like to this book Great Traditions in Ethics (12th Edition)