Social Ethics

Revolutionary War officer Nathan Hale, one of America's first spies, said, "Any kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary." A statue of Hale stands outside CIA headquarters, and the agency often cites his statement as one of its guiding principles. But who decides what is necessary for the public good, and is it really true that any kind of service is permissible for the public good? These questions are at the heart of James M. Olson's book, Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying.

When we think about whether we are good people leading a good life, we usually think about actions. Bad people do bad things that hurt others. Good people do good things that help others, and they avoid doing bad things. Simple. But while our actions certainly have consequences, today our inactions have far greater and far graver consequences. Bad actions can result in the suffering of a few or several dozen others; inaction can result in the extreme misery of thousands.

Paul A. Pagnato has tapped into an incredible brain trust of world-renowned experts from a diverse set of challenging disciplines, each having encountered the intersection of exponential growth and transparency. Their honest assessment for turning challenges into opportunities is inspirational. Their work is changing the world, and now through the prism of transparency, the wave of the future is upon us.

What moral values do human beings hold in common? As globalization draws us together economically, are our values converging or diverging? In particular, are human rights becoming a global ethic? These were the questions that led Michael Ignatieff to embark on a three-year, eight-nation journey in search of answers. The Ordinary Virtues presents Ignatieff's discoveries and his interpretation of what globalization - and resistance to it - is doing to our conscience and our moral understanding.

The consequences of adopting the cynical but popular worldview are many, including needless pessimism, missed investment opportunities, and - surprisingly - even poorer health. Yet An Embarrassment of Riches provides a powerful antidote. Green begins with a robust survey of the many ways our lives are becoming longer, easier, safer, healthier and more prosperous. He then embarks on a wide-ranging exploration of the ideas and the many men and women - both living and dead - who are still enriching our lives today.

Worldwide, more people die by suicide than by murder, and many more are left behind to grieve. Despite distressing statistics that show suicide rates rising, the subject, long a taboo, is infrequently talked about. In this sweeping intellectual and cultural history, poet and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht channels her grief for two friends lost to suicide into a search for history’s most persuasive arguments against the irretrievable act, arguments she hopes to bring back into public consciousness.

What’s philosophy? The reason-based attempt to answer life’s big non-empirical questions. What’s ethics? The reason-based attempt to answer questions about what we morally ought to do.What are philosophers (including ethicists) like? Spock. Yes, the one from Star Trek with the pointy ears. Devoted to the rational pursuit of truth, but humble, and willing to change his mind when given good reason (and with great hair)—Spock would have made a fine philosopher. Love him.

Die Suche nach den intrinsischen Quellen einer Verantwortung, die über die eigene Lebensspanne und Umgebung hinausgeht, ist nie so unternommen worden wie mit diesem Buch. Die Fülle der Gedanken und Anregungen von Jonas zu diesem für unsere Zeit weiterhin offenen Thema, werden durch die Lesung von Axel Grube auf besondere Weise verständlich.

What is morality? Where does it come from? And why do most of us heed its call most of the time? In Braintrust, neurophilosophy pioneer Patricia Churchland argues that morality originates in the biology of the brain. She describes the "neurobiological platform of bonding" that, modified by evolutionary pressures and cultural values, has led to human styles of moral behavior. The result is a provocative genealogy of morals that asks us to reevaluate the priority given to religion, absolute rules, and pure reason in accounting for the basis of morality.

If you have been struggling with the big questions: Who am I? How can I find my purpose? How should I live my life? Stoicism has the answers. In Secrets of the Stoics, you will learn about three of the most influential ancient Stoics: Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca. You will discover the importance of Stoicism in their daily lives and how it helped them cope with the highs and lows of life, before facing death with resilience and acceptance.

In The Science of Good and Evil, psychologist and science historian Michael Shermer explores how humans evolved from social primates into moral primates, how and why morality motivates the human animal, and how the foundation of moral principles can be built upon empirical evidence. Along the way he explains the implications of scientific findings for fate and free will, the existence of pure good and pure evil, and the development of early moral sentiments among the first humans.

Divided into short chapters that can be listened to in brief sittings, What Is Stoicism? compiles two millennia of Stoic thought into simple conversational prose.

David Hume (1711-1776) was the most important philosopher ever to write in English as well as a master stylist. This volume contains his major philosophical works. A Treatise of Human Nature (1739–1740), published while Hume was still in his twenties, consists of three books on the understanding, the passions, and morals.

Las Meditaciones de Marco Aurelio contienen los pensamientos y creencias esenciales de la filosofía estoica. El libro contiene los pensamientos privados del gran emperador Marco Aurelio. Él nunca publicó la obra en su vida. La forma de escritura es única y rica. Todos se necesitan oír esta obra clásica escrita por Marco Aurelio. Esta rendición de la obra es inolvidable por el audio claro y rico. No hay una manera mejor para disfrutar esta obra clásica. Por favor, disfruta y estudia la filosofía estoica del gran emperador Marco Aurelio.

This Audiobook is not a blueprint for the future, but a philosophical exploration of the crisis of the present. It argues that capitalism, once animated by the promise of profit and endless growth, is now eroding from within. Profit has lost its legitimacy, work its meaning, and growth its aura of inevitability. Meanwhile, the historical alternatives—socialism, communism, anarchism—have been exhausted or discredited, leaving us in a void where the old is collapsing but the new has not yet emerged.

"Этика" Аристотеля является одним из самых влиятельных и долговечных произведений в истории философии. Написанное более двух тысяч лет назад, это глубокое философское произведение продолжает быть неиссякаемым источником мудрости и вдохновения для читателей всех времен. "Этика" Аристотеля предлагает не только философские теории, но и практические советы по достижению счастья и благополучия, которые остаются актуальными и по сей день.

"Truth Has No Sides" by Charley Johnson challenges conventional beliefs by exploring the deep divide between "Absolute Truth" and "Individual Truth." Through compelling stories and reflective insights, Johnson navigates the tensions between religious, political, and societal views, inviting listeners to question their conditioning and discover a greater level of awareness. This thought-provoking book offers a unique perspective on the human quest for truth and consciousness, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity in an increasingly polarized world.

This isn’t your average spooky listen. With sharp wit, cheeky insights, and laugh-out-loud takes on everyday life, Not So Spooky Karma shows how the universe serves payback — whether it’s through a viral meme, a backfiring prank, or that text you really shouldn’t have sent.

Expanding on his ideas from Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche's radical polemic Beyond Good and Evil undermines the assumptions of traditional morality and encourages us to think more critically about the world in which we live.

David Cay Johnston has made a name for himself as the defender of the common man, calling out the rich and powerful for cheating the system at the expense of everyone else. Whether he's exposing unjust loopholes in the tax code that help the rich get richer or pointing out how powerful corporations pocket government subsidies at excessive taxpayer expense, Johnston is an eloquent town crier for justice and equality.