Teaching Ethics with Three Philosophical Novels

Michael Boylan

May 2017 · Springer

About this ebook

This book offers a unique method for teaching ethics and social/political philosophy by combining primary texts and resource material along with three philosophical novels so that students can apply the abstract principles to real-life situations. Boylan provides a preface to introduce instructors in how to effectively put together a course in ethics using fiction. A sample syllabus and sample assignments are provided.

Students often turn-off when confronted with abstract ethical principles, alone. This book allows interaction with philosophical novels that provide real-life situations that mirrors applying normative principles to lived experience. Students will be drawn into this realism and their engagement with the material will be significantly enhanced. This is an innovative textbook for teachers and students of general philosophy, ethics, business ethics, social and political philosophy, as well as students of literature and philosophy.

About the author

Michael Boylan (Ph.D. University of Chicago, Philosophy; M.A. University of Chicago, English Literature) is Professor of Philosophy at Marymount University. He is the author of 22 books in Philosophy spanning Ethics and Social/Political Philosophy to Philosophy of Science and to Philosophy and Literature. He is also the author of 135 articles on the same. Boylan is also the author of 6 published novels, a professionally produced play, two books of poetry and scores of short stories. In the practical world Boylan has served on political advisory committees at the national and international level.