Moral Theory at the Movies

An Introduction to Ethics

By (author) Dean Kowalski

Publication date:

08 December 2011

Length of book:

374 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9780742547872

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.

Chapter 1: Rhetoric, Philosophy, and Moral ReasoningFeatured Film: Thank You for Smoking (2005)
1.1 Thinking through the Movie
1.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Gorgias (excerpt)
1.3 Discussion and Analysis
1.4 Two Additional Films: Minority Report (2002) and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008)
1.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
PART I: Meta-ethics
Chapter 2: Simple Ethical Subjectivism
Featured Film: Match Point (2006)
2.1 Thinking through the Movie
2.2 Historical Setting: David Hume, “Ethics and Sentiment”
2.3 Discussion and Analysis
2.4 Two Additional Films: The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) and The Shape of Things (2003)
2.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 3: Moral Relativism
Featured Film: Hotel Rwanda (2004)
3.1 Thinking through the Movie
3.2 Historical Setting: William Sumner, “Folkways”
3.3 Discussion and Analysis
3.4 Two Additional Films: The Joy Luck Club (1993) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
3.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 4: Divine Command TheoryFeatured Film: Frailty (2001)
4.1 Thinking through the Movie
4.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Euthyphro
4.3 Discussion and Analysis
4.4 Two Additional Films: Evan Almighty (2007) and Boondock Saints (1999)
4.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 5: Ethical ObjectivismFeatured Film: The Cider House Rules (1999)
5.1 Thinking through the Movie
5.2 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 Movies
PART II: What Ought I to Do?
Chapter 6: Biology, Psychology, and Ethical TheoryFeatured Film: Cast Away (2000)
6.1 Thinking through the Movie
6.2 Historical Setting: Aquinas, Summa (excerpt)
6.3 Discussion and Analysis
6.4 Two Additional Films: Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Spiderman 2 (2004)
6.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 7: UtilitarianismFeatured Film: Extreme Measures (1996)
7.1 Thinking through the Movie
7.2 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 Movies
Chapter 8: Kant and Respect for Persons EthicsFeatured Film: Horton Hears a Who (2007)
8.1 Thinking through the Movie
8.2 Historical Setting: Immanuel Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (excerpt)
8.3 Discussion and Analysis
8.4 Two Additional Films: 3:10 to Yuma (2007) and Amistad (1997)
8.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 9: Social Contract Theory: Hobbes, Locke, and RawlsFeatured Film: V for Vendetta (2005)
9.1 Thinking through the Movie
9.2 Historical Setting: Hobbes, Leviathan (excerpt)
9.3 Discussion and Analysis
9.4 Two Additional Films: Lord of the Flies (1990) and Serenity (2005)
9.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
PART III: How Ought I to Be?
Chapter 10: Aristotle and Virtue EthicsFeatured Film: Groundhog Day (1993)
10.1 Thinking through the Movie
10.2 Historical Setting: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (excerpt)
10.3 Discussion and Analysis
10.4 Two Additional Films: The Last Samurai (2003) and As Good as It Gets (1998)
10.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 11: Care and FriendshipFeatured Film: Vera Drake (2004)
11.1 Thinking through the Movie
11.2 Historical Setting: Nel Noddings, Caring (excerpt)
11.3 Discussion and Analysis
11.4 Two Additional Films: The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2007) and Life Is Beautiful (1998)
11.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies
Chapter 12: Plato and Being GoodFeatured Film: The Emperor’s Club (2003)
12.1 Thinking through the Movie
12.2 Historical Setting: Plato, Republic (excerpt)
12.3 Discussion and Analysis
12.4 Two Additional Films: Goodfellas (1990) and The Man without a Face (1993)
12.5 Reviewing through the Three Movies

Moral Theory at the Movies is a refreshing and thorough look at the subject of ethics. The well-chosen readings and movies will provoke students to engage constructively with the material and the author's discussions and explanations are clear and appealing. The study questions provided should ensure a high level of in-class discussion. In short, this is a first-rate text for introductory ethical theory courses.