Moral Theory at the Movies: An Introduction to Ethics (Rowman Littlefield)

Moral Theory at the Movies provides students with a wonderfully approachable introduction to ethics. The book incorporates film summaries and study questions to draw students into ethical theory and then pairs them with classical philosophical texts. The students see how moral theories, dilemmas, and questions are represented in the given films and learn to apply these theories to the world they live in. There are 36 films and a dozen readings including: Thank you for Smoking, Plato's Gorgias, John Start Mill's Utilitarianism, Hotel Rwanda, Plato's Republic, and Horton Hears a Who. Topics cover a wide variety of ethical theories including, ethical subjectivism, moral relativism, ethical theory, and virtue ethics. Moral Theory at the Movies will appeal to students and help them think about how philosophy is relevant today. - Publisher. Chapter 1: Rhetoric, Philosophy, and Moral ReasoningFeatured Film: Thank You for Smoking (2005)1.1 Thinking through the Movie1.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Gorgias (excerpt)1.3 Discussion and Analysis1.4 Two Additional Films: Minority Report (2002) and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)1.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesPART I: Meta-ethicsChapter 2: Simple Ethical SubjectivismFeatured Film: Match Point (2006)2.1 Thinking through the Movie2.2 Historical Setting: David Hume, "Ethics and Sentiment"2.3 Discussion and Analysis2.4 Two Additional Films: The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and The Shape of Things (2003) 2.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 3: Moral RelativismFeatured Film: Hotel Rwanda (2004)3.1 Thinking through the Movie3.2 Historical Setting: William Sumner, "Folkways"3.3 Discussion and Analysis3.4 Two Additional Films: The Joy Luck Club (1993) and Do the Right Thing (1989)3.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 4: Divine Command TheoryFeatured Film: Frailty (2001)4.1 Thinking through the Movie4.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Euthyphro4.3 Discussion and Analysis4.4 Two Additional Films: Evan Almighty (2007) and Boondock Saints (1999)4.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 5: Ethical ObjectivismFeatured Film: The Cider House Rules (1999)5.1 Thinking through the Movie5.2 Historical Setting: Thomas Reid, "Of the First Principles of Morals"5.3 Discussion and Analysis 5.4 Two Additional Films: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Schindler's List (1993)5.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesPART II: What Ought I to Do?Chapter 6: Biology, Psychology, and Ethical TheoryFeatured Film: Cast Away (2000)6.1 Thinking through the Movie6.2 Historical Setting: Aquinas, Summa (excerpt)6.3 Discussion and Analysis6.4 Two Additional Films: Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Spiderman 2 (2004)6.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 7: UtilitarianismFeatured Film: Extreme Measures (1996)7.1 Thinking through the Movie7.2 Historical Setting: John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (excerpt)7.3 Discussion and Analysis 7.4 Two Additional Films: Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Eternal Sunshine...Spotless Mind (2004)7.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 8: Kant and Respect for Persons EthicsFeatured Film: Horton Hears a Who (2007)8.1 Thinking through the Movie8.2 Historical Setting: Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (excerpt)8.3 Discussion and Analysis8.4 Two Additional Films: 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Amistad (1997)8.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 9: Social Contract Theory: Hobbes, Locke, and RawlsFeatured Film: V for Vendetta (2005)9.1 Thinking through the Movie9.2 Historical Setting: Hobbes, Leviathan (excerpt)9.3 Discussion and Analysis9.4 Two Additional Films: Lord of the Flies (1990) and Serenity (2005)9.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesPART III: How Ought I to Be?Chapter 10: Aristotle and Virtue EthicsFeatured Film: Groundhog Day (1993)10.1 Thinking through the Movie10.2 Historical Setting: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (excerpt) 10.3 Discussion and Analysis10.4 Two Additional Films: The Last Samurai (2003) and As Good as It Gets (1998)10.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 11: Care and FriendshipFeatured Film: Vera Drake (2004)11.1 Thinking through the Movie11.2 Historical Setting: Nel Noddings, Caring (excerpt) 11.3 Discussion and Analysis11.4 Two Additional Films: The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2007) and Life Is Beautiful (1998)11.5 Reviewing through the Three MoviesChapter 12: Plato and Being GoodFeatured Film: The Emperor's Club (2003) 12.1 Thinking through the Movie12.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Republic (excerpt)12.3 Discussion and Analysis12.4 Two Additional Films: Goodfellas (1990) and The Man without a Face (1993)12.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies

Moral Theory at the Movies provides students with a wonderfully approachable introduction to ethics. The book incorporates film summaries and study questions to draw students into ethical theory and then pairs them with classical philosophical texts. The students see how moral theories, dilemmas, and questions are represented in the given films and learn to apply these theories to the world they live in. There are 36 films and a dozen readings including: Thank you for Smoking, Plato’s Gorgias, John Start Mill’s Utilitarianism, Hotel Rwanda, Plato’s Republic, and Horton Hears a Who. Topics cover a wide variety of ethical theories including, ethical subjectivism, moral relativism, ethical theory, and virtue ethics. Moral Theory at the Movies will appeal to students and help them think about how philosophy is relevant today.

Rhetoric, philosophy, and moral reasoning (featured film : Thank you for smoking) Part one : Metaethics. Simple ethical subjectivism (Match point) Moral relativism (Hotel Rwanda) Divine command theory ethics (Frailty) Ethical objectivism (The Cider House rules) Part two : What ought I to do? Biology, psychology, and ethical theory (Cast away) Utilitarianism (Extreme measures) Kant and respect for persons ethics (Horton hears a Who!) Social contract theory : Hobbes, Locke, and Rawls (V for vendetta) Part three : How ought I to be? Aristotle and virtue ethics (Groundhog day) Care and friendship (Vera Drake) Plato and being good (The Emperor's club) About the author