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Philosophy for A2: Ethics and Philosophy of Mind PDF

393 Pages·2015·1.2 MB·English
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PHILOSOPHY FOR A2 Philosophy for A2 is an engaging textbook for the new AQA A2 Philosophy syllabus. Structured closely around the AQA specifi cation this textbook covers the two units, Ethics and Philosophy of Mind, in a comprehensive and student-friendly way. All of the anthology texts are explained and commented on and woven into the discussion of the syllabus. With chapters on ‘How to Do Philosophy’ and exam preparation this textbook provides students with the philosophical skills they need to succeed. Each chapter includes: ● explanation and commentary of the AQA anthology texts ● comprehension questions to test understanding ● discussion questions to generate evaluative argument ● ‘going further’ sections for advanced study ● cross-references to help students make connections ● bullet-point summaries of each topic. The companion website hosts a wealth of further resources, including PowerPoint slides, fl ashcards, further reading, weblinks and handouts, all structured to accompany the textbook. It can be found at www.routledge. com/cw/alevelphilosophy. Michael Lacewing is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London. He is the founder of the company A Level Philosophy and a consultant on philosophy at A Level for the British Philosophical Association. Praise for this edition: ‘This excellent textbook covers an impressive range of material with admirable clarity and concision. The structure of Lacewing’s exposition is such as to secure the central points, and then to provide readers with opportunities to “go further” – to venture more deeply and to explore topics in more detail. Highly pertinent use is made of a wealth of argumentation and illustration drawn from relevant anthologised textual sources. In addition, there are helpful syllabus checklists, chapter summaries, and well-chosen questions throughout. An invaluable guide.’ Dr Paul Dawson, Head of Philosophy at King Alfred’s School and Teacher of Philosophy at University College School, UK ‘Philosophy for A2 has all the virtues that teachers and students have come to expect from Lacewing. It is crystal clear, accurate and authoritative. It is very diffi cult to fi nd a Philosophy textbook which is truly accessible to sixth form students and equally acceptable to professional philosophers. But this book is surely both. The hard-pressed teacher will fi nd here a resource that he or she can completely trust and rely upon. The student will fi nd a text which is written in a clear, intelligible and engaging style. This is a model textbook and every school sixth form should possess at least one class set.’ Geoff Willis, Senior Area Leader for Humanities, Literature and Languages, City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, UK ‘Accessible for students at different levels and invaluable for teachers who want to ensure they cover all the relevant material for the new syllabus. Clear summaries of the main arguments and concise explanations of key extracts from the anthology make this textbook an essential resource for anyone taking the new A2 AQA Philosophy qualifi cation.’ Agnes Orosz, A Level Philosophy Teacher, UCL Academy, UK PHILOSOPHY FOR A2 Ethics and Philosophy of Mind Michael Lacewing First published 2015 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2015 Michael Lacewing The right of Michael Lacewing to be identifi ed as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Lacewing, Michael, 1971– Philosophy for A2 : ethics and philosophy of mind / by Michael Lacewing. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Philosophy--Textbooks. I. Title. BD21.L177 2015 107.6--dc23 2014043527 ISBN: 978-1-138-83787-4 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-73483-5 (ebk) Typeset in Mixage by Saxon Graphics Ltd, Derby CONTENTS Acknowledgements xix Introduction 1 How to use this book 2 How to do philosophy 2 Following the syllabus 2 Additional features 3 Using the anthology 3 Glossary 4 Companion website and further resources 5 1 How to do philosophy 7 Philosophical argument 7 Deductive argument 8 Inductive argument 8 Understanding arguments 10 Evaluating arguments 11 Evaluating claims 12 An aside: why reason? 13 Fallacies 13 Reading philosophy 14 Approaching the text 14 Engaging with the text 15 Beyond the text 16 Writing philosophy 16 What you need to know 16 Planning an essay 18 vi Contents Writing an essay 19 A standard essay structure 21 General advice 21 2 Ethics 23 I. Ethical theories: how do we decide what it is morally right to do? 26 A. Utilitarianism 26 Anthology: Bentham, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Chs. 1, 4 27 Ch. 1 ‘The Principle of Utility’ 27 Ch. 4 How happiness may be calculated 28 Anthology: Mill, Utilitarianism, Chs. 1, 2 29 What is happiness? 32 Preference utilitarianism 35 Anthology: Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 4 36 Going further: Mill’s ‘proof’ of utilitarianism 36 Issues for (act) utilitarianism 41 Problems with calculation 41 Individual liberty and rights 42 Anthology: Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 5 43 The value of motives and character 45 Anthology: Mill, Utilitarianism, Ch. 3 47 Going further: Mill on conscience 47 The moral status of particular relationships 48 Rule utilitarianism 50 Objections 52 Key points: utilitarianism 53 B. Kantian deontological ethics 55 Deontology 55 Going further: actions and intentions 56 Contents vii Anthology: Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Ch. 1 57 The good will 57 Duty 58 Anthology: Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Ch. 2; Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Ch. 9.1 60 Hypothetical and categorical imperatives 60 The two tests 61 Morality and reason 62 The second formulation of the Categorical Imperative 63 Anthology: Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Ch. 2 (cont.); Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Ch. 10.1 63 Issues for Kantian ethics 65 Problems with the application of the principle 65 The intuition that consequences of actions determine their moral value 66 The value of certain motives and commitments 66 Confl icts between duties 68 Anthology: Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Ch. 9.3 68 Key points: Kantian deontological ethics 69 C. Aristotle’s virtue ethics 70 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk 1 71 The good 71 Eudaimonia 72 Final ends 73 The function argument 74 Testing the analysis 76 Going further: the rational ‘soul’ 77 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk 2 79 Traits of character 79 viii Contents Virtues and the doctrine of the mean 80 Virtues and vices 82 Acquiring virtues and being virtuous 83 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bks 3.6–12, 7.1–10 85 Going further: Aristotle on courage and temperance 85 Going further: virtue – past and present 89 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk 3.1–5 90 Voluntary and involuntary actions 90 Choice and deliberation 93 Going further: moral responsibility 94 Key points: Aristotle’s virtue ethics (I) 97 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk 6 99 Practical wisdom 99 What practical wisdom involves 99 The relation between practical wisdom and virtue 101 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk 5 102 Going further: Aristotle on justice 102 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bks 7.12–13, 10.1–5 106 Is pleasure good? 106 Going further: pleasure, virtue and function 108 Anthology: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bks 10.6–8 109 Eudaimonia and philosophy 109 Issues for Aristotle’s virtue ethics 111 Guidance on how to act 112 Confl icts between virtues 113 The possibility of circularity involved in defi ning virtuous acts and virtuous people in terms of each other 114 Contents ix Key points: Aristotle’s virtue ethics (II) 115 D. Applications 117 Crime and punishment 117 Utilitarianism 117 Retribution and justice 119 Anthology: Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Ch. 10.3 120 War 121 Resorting to war 122 Justice in war 123 Justice at the end of war 123 Is war ever justifi ed? 124 The treatment of animals 125 Utilitarianism 125 Kant and deontology 126 Aristotle and virtue ethics 127 Simulated killing 128 Playing the killer 129 An audience’s perspective 133 Deception and the telling of lies 134 Utilitarianism 134 Kantian deontology 135 Anthology: Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, Ch. 9.2 135 Aristotle’s virtue ethics 137 Key points: applications 138 Practical ethics in exam answers 141 Summary: ethical theories 142 II. Ethical language: what is the status of ethical language? 143 A. Introducing metaethics 143 What is metaethics? 143 Cognitivism and non-cognitivism 144 Mental states and ‘direction of fi t’ 145

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Philosophy for A2 is an engaging textbook for the new AQA A2 Philosophy syllabus. Structured closely around the AQA specification this textbook covers the two units, Ethics and Philosophy of Mind, in a comprehensive and student-friendly way. All of the anthology texts are explained and commented on
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Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.