Thomas L. Carson ist ein Philosophieprofessor, dessen Werk sich hauptsächlich mit Ethik und Moralphilosophie beschäftigt. Er untersucht kritisch komplexe Fragestellungen der angewandten Ethik und Handlungstheorie und ergründet die fundamentalen Prinzipien moralischer Entscheidungsfindung sowie deren gesellschaftliche Auswirkungen. Carsons Ansatz zeichnet sich durch rigorose analytische Methoden und eine tiefe Auseinandersetzung mit ethischen Dilemmata aus.
This book explores the author's struggle with moral relativism in ethics education, prompted by students' skepticism. It presents a nuanced position between minimal objectivism and moderate relativism, arguing against extreme irrationalism while acknowledging the challenges in defending strong objectivist views without bias.
Exploring the concept of "the good life," Thomas Carson critiques established philosophical theories, including hedonism and preference-satisfaction, while introducing a divine-preference theory of value. He challenges assumptions about moral realism and engages with classical ideas from Mill, Sidgwick, Nietzsche, and Aristotle. By employing thought experiments, Carson invites readers to clarify their values. His argument posits that goodness is determined by either divine preferences, if a benevolent God exists, or by human desires in the absence of such a deity, providing a fresh perspective on a timeless question.
The book delves into the moral implications of lying and deception, presenting a strong argument for a moral presumption against harmful dishonesty. Through case studies from various fields such as business, politics, and history, it explores the complexities surrounding these concepts. Additionally, the author provides a nuanced defense of honesty as a virtue, making the work a thorough examination of ethical considerations related to truthfulness.