ANY WEBSITE FOR ETHICAL QUESTIONs???

Question

Hi. Im 15 and quite interested in ethics - however I'm not the sharpest critical thinker, and often dont think of points for/against very well. I would like any resource - preferably a website or maybe a book (without too much jargon) that just explores through controversial topics ranging from politics to religion to simple every day matters

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi-
In a few years you could be in my class. Right now I have to confess that there's not a whole lot geared to your request.

There are LOADS of sites that just give one opinion on a topic and not many non-technical ones that give both sides.

The NY Times site has some good material (as mentioned) although I find it a bit slanted at times.

The BBC site below is also good-


http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/

And San Diego U has an excellent site that may be a bit more technical but has links to non-professuional publications as well-
http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Applied/Animals/index.asp

As far as a book goes, I would REALLY recommend a basic book on introductory theory just because almost everyone's arguments fall into one category or another and you can figure out where they're going and why they say something IF you know where they're coming from.

Here's a website that has an article that describes the WHOLE outline of ethical theory - but I'd skip the section on meta-ethics if I were you and just work through the virtue ethics and the last section. It's not written in the technical language of philosophy but you do need to spend some time with it.

Back to San Diego U--- a prof. there (Hinman) has some excellent powerpoint presentations that might help you get started.-

for example- here's from slide 2 of one presentation:

“Do what the Bible tells you”--Divine Command Theories
“Follow your conscience”--The Ethics of Conscience
“Watch out for #1”--Ethical Egoism
“Do the right thing”--The Ethics of Duty
“Don't dis' me”--The Ethics of Respect
“...all Men are created ...with certain unalienable Rights”--The Ethics of Rights
“Make the world a better place”--Utilitarianism
“Daddy, that’s not fair”--The Ethics of Justice
“Be a good person”--Virtue Ethics

It's a nice outline of the basic positions, isn't it?
http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Intro/index.asp

All the best!

Answer 2

NY Times Magazine has an Ethics questions and answer section. It's actually quit informative and the gentleman who edits it is down to earth. You can read it for free online at the NY Times websites.

Link is below.

Answer 3

Very well stated. Probably you can pick your topic and google it for pro's and cons. I would say also to stay on YA and read with understanding. you will get many diverse opinions, you will also get nonsensical or irritating answers, just go to the next. Should you wish a contributor to elaborate more fully, see if they accept e-mail via this site, if so, write and ask specific questions. Best of everything to you in your life. June.

Answer 4

I enjoyed reading a book by Ann Coulter called Godless.

Answer 5

Just stick around here you will be amazed at how much you learn.