Bøger af Joel Marks

A distant object is heading toward us, which may be a comet or an alien spacecraft. A decision must be made about how to deflect it or how to greet it. The fate of other species on Earth is complexly tied to the question. Two lovers are caught up in the drama in surprising ways. Debating the issues are astronomers, ethicists, civil servants, and the military. "Traitors to Their Kind" is a novel about animal ethics and planetary defense -- two topics that may seem worlds apart but which are here brought together by philosopher Joel Marks, an expert in both areas.

An autobiographical account of a philosopher's fall from innocence, Bad Faith relates the author's discovery of the God-like nature of morality and his realization that a self-styled atheist such as himself could therefore no longer believe in it. The book describes in detail what the author's life was like both immediately before and immediately after this "anti-epiphany." Proceeding from secular morality to secular amorality, the transformation was every bit as traumatic for this earnest moralist as the loss of belief in God would be for a devout theist. Yet a new basis for living finally emerges.

"Philosophy begins in wonder. Philosophy begins in suffering." So begins this exploration of the mystery of the universe and its implications for our lives. A central theme is that what we normally consider to be reality is an illusion. Our most fundamental beliefs are false - about God, morality, free will, the self, even the familiar features of everyday life. Quoting the book: "Not a single headline in the newspaper, not a single utterance about the most commonplace circumstance, not a single perception, not a single feeling is what it seems." What then? The book's conclusion is that a more clear-eyed view of the world, while not promising ultimate salvation from the tragedies and burdens of life, does have certain practical advantages for lessening them, and also offers the "philosophical consolation" that the universe is wondrous.

Written in an engaging style for the general reader, It's Just a Feeling addresses the fundamental question of ethics: "How shall I live?" The answer it offers is: "In accordance with my considered desires." This is the philosophy of desirism. The book distinguishes desirism from morality on the one hand and from self-centeredness on the other. Numerous examples drawn from everyday life illustrate desirism in both theory and practice.

Calling it "desirism", Marks illustrates what life and the world would be like if we lived in accordance with our rational desires rather than the dictates of any actual or pretend morality, neither overlaying our desires with moral sanction nor attempting to override them with moral strictures.

Ought Implies Kant offers an original defense of the ethical theory of Immanuel Kant, and develops an extension of that theoryOs account of moral duty to include direct duties to nonhuman animals. The discussion centers on a critical examination of consequentialism, the view that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined solely by its consequences. Kantianism, by contrast, claims that the core of ethics is to treat all persons_or, in Joel MarksOs view, all living beings_as ends-in-themselves. The consequentialist criterion would seem to permit, indeed require, violating the dignity of persons (not to mention the dignity of other animals) if this would result in a better outcome. This volume treats the consequentialist challenge to Kantian ethics in several novel ways. To begin with, the utilitarian version of consequentialism is delineated and defended by means of a conceptual device dubbed by the author as the Consequentialist Continuum. Marks then provides an exhaustive and definitive exposition of the relatively neglected Epistemic Objection to utilitarianism. While acknowledging the intuitive appeal of utilitarianismOs core conviction_that we should always do what is for the best_Marks argues that this is an impossible injunction to fulfill, or even to attempt to fulfill, because all of the relevant results of our actions can never be known. Kantianism is then introduced as a viable alternative account of our ethical obligations. Marks argues that Kantianism is well within the scope of normal human competence and conforms equally well to our ethical intuitions once the theoryOs proper interpretation is appreciated. However, KantOs own version must be extended to accommodate the rightful moral consideration we owe to nonhuman animals. Finally, Marks employs the notion of a Consequentialist Illusion to explain utilitarianismOs hold on our moral intuitions, while developing a form of Consequentialist Kantianism to address them. An original and penetrating examination of a central debate in moral philosophy, this book will be of interest to philosophical ethicists, upper-level and graduate philosophy students, and the intellectual reading public.

This text provides an introduction to the study of ethics. There are 38 essays which focus on different themes, such as, what is ethics?, and how are ethics relevant to life? The essays argue that ethics should play a role in decision making. Originally written for the author's college course.