Morality and the Movies presents the ideal introduction to philosophical ethics for film lovers. Dan Shaw uses a series of sixteen popular films, including Hotel Rwanda, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, A Clockwork Orange, Dead Man Walking and Full Metal Jacket, to illustrate all the major ethical theories and key contemporary moral issues. The book provides a brief summary and philosophical interpretation of each film, with reference throughout to primary philosophical sources. A unique pedagogical feature is that each chapter begins with a five-step summary of the theoretical position in question and a critical evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses through a specific film. Topics covered include:
- divine authority
- the social contract
- moral relativism
- virtue ethics
- freedom and determinism
- euthanasia
- capital punishment
- war and terrorism
- abortion
- business ethics
Ideal for undergraduate students coming to philosophical ethics for the first time, this book utilizes popular film to introduce a central topic in the study of philosophy.
- 209 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
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Table of contents
- Morality and the Movies
- Introduction: Morality and the movies: Reading ethics through film
- 1 Submission to God’s will in A Man for All Seasons
- 2 Egoism and utilitarianism in Casablanca
- 3 Social contract theory in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
- 4 Kant: Morality as rational consistency
- 5 Relativism, perspectivism, and Citizen Kane
- 6 Moral virtue and the limits of friendship in Nichomachean Ethics and The Third Man
- 7 Freedom and determinism in A Clockwork Orange
- 8 Kinsey and sexual morality
- 9 Active euthanasia and The Sea Inside
- 10 Capital punishment and compassion in Dead Man Walking
- 11 The morality and meaning of war in Full Metal Jacket
- 12 Individual autonomy and abortion rights in The Cider House Rules
- 13 Bowling for Columbine and gun control
- 14 Terrorism and counterterrorism in Munich
- 15 The ethics of business in Wall Street
- 16 Affirmative action and diversity in Remember the Titans
- Conclusion: How films can be philosophical and how philosophy can light up the screen
- Works cited
- Index
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Yes, you can access Morality and the Movies by Dan Shaw in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Philosophy & Ethics & Moral Philosophy. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.