Taking People Seriously

Why should we study ethics if no one ethical theory is the right one? The answer Taking People Seriously: A Defense of Ethical Theory provides is a simple one. While all ethical theories are not alike, and no single theory is problem free, ethical theories do have something in common. They are all attempts at pulling people out of their self-centeredness and shifting their focus to finding the best way to treat others.

Taking People Seriously gives students a fresh and original answer to basic philosophical questions about human conduct. It specifically argues against both ethical egoism and ethical relativism, the two most prevalent theories students hold when entering college. While the answer provided in the text is simple, putting it into practice requires skills of subtle discernment and nuance, and it explains why anybody and everybody would benefit from taking other people seriously.

Taking People Seriously is designed for introductory or survey courses in normative ethics.