The Moral World [Paperback]

The Moral World is a comprehensive introduction to the diverse perspectives of major ethical thinkers and theories. The book explores Eastern, Western, religious, and secular views of ethics and helps students understand when and how to participate in ethical discussions.

The text is rooted in normative ethicsthe various theories of ethics created by thinkers to let us know how to behave toward one another. The four sections of the book address religious morality and transcendence, virtue ethicists, rational norms and secular morality, and ethics and social change. As students engage with these overarching concepts, they are exposed to the writings of great philosophical thinkers ancient and contemporary, including Aristotle, Maimonides, Avicenna, Bentham, Rand, Marx, King, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.

Written in a student-friendly style, The Moral World enables students to understand the place of ethics, connect religion and ethics, and recognize the value of ethics in the material world. The book is appropriate for introductory courses in ethics. It can also be used as a supplemental reader in classes on comparative religion, general philosophy, or humanities.

Arnold Smith earned his B.A. in philosophy and history, and his M.A. in philosophy at Kent State University. In addition, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from ULC Seminary in 2010. Professor Smith is a faculty member in both the Department of Philosophy at Kent State, and the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University in Ohio. In addition, Professor Smith has acted as advisor for the Philosophy and Religious Studies Forum and the Eastern Wisdom, Meditation and Chant group. He is a member of the Ohio and American Philosophical Associations. Professor Smith's professional writing has been published in Philosophy Now, Brijabasi Spirit, and the Ogele.