This book examines the central questions of ethics through a study of theories found in the great ethical works of Western philosophy. The core chapters cover egoism, the eudaimonism of Plato and Aristotle, act and rule utilitarianism, modern natural law theory, Kant's moral theory, and existentialist ethics.
This volume brings together philosophical essays on emotions by eleven leading thinkers in the field. The essays cover a variety of topics that relate emotions to humor, opera, theater, justice, war, death, our intellectual life, authenticity, personal identity, self-knowledge, and science. Several break new ground in the field. Others extend and deepen work for which their authors are well-known. All but two of the essays are new. Contributors include Noel Carroll, Martha Nussbaum, Paul Woodruff, Laurence Thomas, Kathleen Higgins, Michael Stocker, Nancy Sherman, Jerome Neu, Charles Nussbaum, and Robert Roberts. The book honors the memory of Robert C. Solomon, whose influential work in the philosophy of emotions helped mold the field for over three decades. An introductory essay explains the development and importance of Solomon's thought in this field.
Essays in Moral Psychology and Freudian Theory
Focusing on the psychology of moral agency, this collection of essays delves into moral feelings and motivations, tracing their roots in human desires and emotions. A distinctive aspect is the incorporation of Freud's insights on conscience and morality, with several essays examining the strengths and limitations of his theories. The volume critiques rationalist perspectives, arguing against the notion that reason alone drives moral action, emphasizing instead the interplay of cognitive and affective capacities in shaping moral agency.