MORALITY AND THE HUMAN GOODS by Alfonso Gomez-Lobo ( 9781589013766 )

Item Details

Title:

MORALITY AND THE HUMAN GOODS
AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL LAW ETHICS

By:

Format:

Electronic book text

List price:	£21.00
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ISBN 10:

158901376X

ISBN 13:

9781589013766

Publisher:

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PRESS

Pub. date:

18 December, 2001

Series:

Morality and the Human Goods

Pages:

168

Synopsis:

A concise and accessible introduction to natural law ethics, this book introduces readers to the mainstream tradition of Western moral philosophy. Building on philosophers from Plato through Aquinas to John Finnis, Alfonso Gomez-Lobo links morality to the protection of basic human goods - life, family, friendship, work and play, the experience of beauty, knowledge, and integrity - elements essential to a flourishing, happy human life. Gomez-Lobo begins with a discussion of Plato's Crito as an introduction to the practice of moral philosophy, showing that it requires that its participants treat each other as equals and offer rational arguments to persuade each other. He then puts forth a general principle for practical rationality: one should pursue what is good and avoid what is bad. The human goods form the basis for moral norms that provide a standard by which actions can be evaluated: do they support or harm the human goods? He argues that moral norms should be understood as a system of rules whose rationale is the protection and enhancement of human goods. A moral norm that does not enjoin the preservation or enhancement of a specific good is unjustifiable. Shifting to a case study approach, Gomez-Lobo applies these principles to a discussion of abortion and euthanasia. The book ends with a brief treatment of rival positions, including utilitarianism and libertarianism, and of conscience as our ultimate moral guide. Written as an introductory text for students of ethics and natural law, Morality and the Human Goods makes arguments consistent with Catholic teaching but is not based on theological considerations. The work falls squarely within the field of philosophical ethics and will be of interest to readers of any background.

US Grade:

College Graduate Student and over

Publication:

Imprint:

Georgetown University Press

Returns:

Non-returnable

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