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More About This Title Seeing The Light - Exploring Ethics ThroughMovies
English
- Features broad coverage of topics in ethics and moral reasoning
- Offers an innovative and imaginative approach to showing relevance of movies for ethical reflection
- Draws on a diverse selection of popular movies, foreign films, and documentaries to illustrate ethical dilemmas and character development on the big screen that has application to our lives
- Presents coverage of major ethical theories ranging from Ethical Egoism and Cultural Relativism to Utilitarianism, Kantian Ethics, Rawls' Justice Theory, Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, and Feminist Ethics
- Demonstrates how film is a powerful vehicle for sharpening skills in analysis and moral reasoning
- Includes accompanying website
English
Wanda Teays is a professor of philosophy and ethics at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, where she is also Chair of the Philosophy Department. She is the author or editor of numerous books and articles on ethics, global justice, and critical reasoning, including Bioethics and Culture; Bioethics, Justice, and Health Care; and Second Thoughts: Critical Thinking for a Diverse Society.
English
Acknowledgments xvi
0.0 Introduction to the Text 1
Where We Go From Here 5
Structure of the Text 6
Works Cited 7
Online Resources 7
Unit 1 The Human Condition 9
1.0 Introduction to Unit 1 11
Tools for the Journey 14
Aristotle’s Poetics and the Six Components of a Movie 15
Works Cited 21
1.1 Authenticity 22
The Ethical Framework: Existential Philosophy 23
SPOTLIGHT: Groundhog Day 24
SPOTLIGHT: Up in the Air 30
Short Takes: Revolutionary Road 36
Outtakes: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Paulain (Amélie) 37
Short Takes: The Visitor 38
Outtakes: Alice and Midnight in Paris 39
Works Cited 40
Online Resources 41
Discussion Questions 42
1.2 Personal Identity 43
SPOTLIGHT: Avatar 45
SPOTLIGHT: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum 48
Short Takes: All of Me 52
Short Takes: Big 55
Short Takes: Prelude to a Kiss 55
Outtakes: The Unmistaken Child 57
Outtakes: Lât Den Rätte Kama In (Let the Right One In) 58
Outtakes: Being John Malkovich and Memento 58
Works Cited 59
Online Resources 60
Discussion Questions 61
1.3 Autonomy and Liberty 62
SPOTLIGHT: Million Dollar Baby 64
SPOTLIGHT: District 9 67
SPOTLIGHT: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 73
Short Takes: The Shawshank Redemption 75
Outtakes: The Soloist 77
Outtakes: K-19: The Widowmaker 77
Outtakes: Yogen (Premonition) 78
Works Cited 79
Online Resources 80
Discussion Questions 81
1.4 Courage and Inner Strength 82
SPOTLIGHT: The Hurt Locker 85
SPOTLIGHT: The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day 88
SPOTLIGHT: El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) 91
Short Takes: Die Hard 96
Outtakes: Dirty Pretty Things 97
Outtakes: Thunderheart 98
Works Cited 99
Online Resources 99
Discussion Questions 100
Unit 2 Ethical Theory 101
2.0 Introduction to Unit 2 103
Moral Agency 104
Applying the Theories 105
Works Cited 115
Online Resources 115
Discussion Questions 116
2.1 Ethical Egoism 117
The Ethical Framework: Ethical Egoism 119
SPOTLIGHT: What About Bob ? 121
SPOTLIGHT: The Proposal 125
Short Takes: Clueless 128
Outtakes: The Social Network 130
Outtakes: The Purple Rose of Cairo 131
Outtakes: Solitary Man 132
Outtakes: Ghost Town 133
Works Cited 133
Online Resources 134
Discussion Questions 134
2.2 Cultural Relativism 135
The Ethical Framework: Cultural Relativism 136
SPOTLIGHT: Witness 138
SPOTLIGHT: Gran Torino 140
SPOTLIGHT: Mutluluk (Bliss) 142
Short Takes: Boyz N the Hood 144
Short Takes: The Godfather 145
Outtakes: The Namesake 147
Works Cited 148
Online Resources 149
Discussion Questions 149
2.3 Utilitarianism 150
The Ethical Framework: Utilitarianism 151
SPOTLIGHT: Outbreak 153
SPOTLIGHT: Minority Report 155
Short Takes: The Manchurian Candidate 158
Short Takes: Torchwood: Children of Earth 159
Short Takes: Secrecy 160
Outtakes: Star Chamber 162
Outtakes: Inception 163
Works Cited 165
Online Resources 166
Discussion Questions 166
2.4 Kantian Ethics 167
The Ethical Framework: Kantian Ethics 169
SPOTLIGHT: Alien 171
SPOTLIGHT: The Truman Show 176
SPOTLIGHT: School of Rock 178
Short Takes: La Historia Oficial (The Official Story) and Cautiva (Captive) 180
Short Takes: Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring 182
Outtakes: Shattered Glass 183
Works Cited 184
Online Resources 185
Discussion Questions 185
2.5 Rawls' Justice Theory 186
The Ethical Framework: Rawls' "Justice As Fairness" 188
SPOTLIGHT: My Cousin Vinny 190
SPOTLIGHT: The Accused and The Brave One 193
Short Takes: Michael Clayton 197
Short Takes: John Q 199
Short Takes: Stand and Deliver 201
Outtakes: El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes) 203
Outtakes: Food, Inc. and Darwin’s Nightmare 204
Works Cited 205
Online Resources 205
Discussion Questions 206
2.6 Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics 207
The Ethical Framework: Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics 208
SPOTLIGHT: The Insider 210
SPOTLIGHT: To Kill a Mockingbird 214
Short Takes: Idiocracy 218
Short Takes: Lethal Weapon 2 219
Outtakes: Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and Taxi to the Dark Side 220
Works Cited 223
Online Resources 223
Discussion Questions 224
2.7 Feminist Ethics 225
The Ethical Framework: Feminist Ethics 226
SPOTLIGHT: Pleasantville 230
SPOTLIGHT: The Island 234
Short Takes: Terminator 2: Judgment Day 237
Short Takes: Secrets and Lies 239
Outtakes: Salt 240
Works Cited 241
Online Resources 242
Discussion Questions 242
Unit 3 Ethical Dilemmas 245
3.0 Introduction to Unit 3 247
Works Cited 251
Online Resources 251
3.1 Confronting the Dilemma 253
Setting Up the Dilemma 254
SPOTLIGHT: Fargo 258
SPOTLIGHT: Vitus 263
Short Takes: Fearless and The Sweet Hereafter 265
Short Takes: The Fabulous Baker Boys and Crazy Heart 267
Outtakes: Juno 268
Outtakes: Slumdog Millionaire 268
Works Cited 269
Online Resources 269
Discussion Questions 270
3.2 Encountering Evil 271
SPOTLIGHT: Silence of the Lambs 274
SPOTLIGHT: The Dark Knight and The Empire Strikes Back 277
SPOTLIGHT: Wizard of Oz 280
Short Takes: Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) 283
Short Takes: The Matrix 284
Outtakes: Fanny and Alexander 285
Outtakes: Nuit et Brouillard (Night and Fog) 285
Works Cited 287
Online Resources 288
Discussion Questions 288
3.3 Impact of Perspective 289
Assessing the Impact of Diverse Perspectives 290
Frames of Reference 291
SPOTLIGHT: House of Sand and Fog 292
SPOTLIGHT: 21 Grams 295
SPOTLIGHT: Powwow Highway 298
Short Takes: Så som i himmele (As it is in Heaven) 302
Outtakes: Mississippi Masala 304
Outtakes: Paradise Now 304
Works Cited 305
Online Resources 305
Discussion Questions 306
3.4 Reflecting on Ethical Decisions 307
Ethical Reflection 308
SPOTLIGHT: Touching the Void 311
SPOTLIGHT: Sleep Dealer 315
Short Takes: Thelma & Louise 318
Short Takes: The Verdict 320
Short Takes: North Country 321
Outtakes: Efter brylluppe (After the Wedding) 324
Works Cited 325
Online Resources 325
Discussion Questions 326
Unit 4 Conclusion and Sources 327
4.0 Conclusion to the Text 329
Works Cited 332
4.1 Reading List 333
4.2 Contemporary Moral Problems 335
4.3 Official Websites 338
Index 344
English
“Wanda Teays in Seeing the Lighthas written an enthusiastic volume for use as the primary textbook for an introductory class in ethics, both normative and applied. Although intended for a post-secondary audience the text could be used successfully in a secondary educational setting as well.” (Metapsychology, 13 August 2013)
Wanda Teays is truly an original thinker and captivating writer. Now I know how to answer the question "Have you seen any good movies lately?" Teays analyzes the ethical content of a battery of classical and very recent films, and I can't wait to get a copy of the book and teach it. What an intellectual and emotional blast that will be.
-Rosemarie Tong, UNC Charlotte
This is a wonderful book! Film is a dynamic vehicle to engage philosophy. You should buy this book if you want to energize your teaching or if you're looking for new avenues for your research. Teays has got it spot on.
-Michael Boylan, Marymount University
