An Introduction to Ethics

Alexander Skutch's Moral Foundations, offered by Axios Press in English for the first time, embodies Skutch's lifelong inquiry into the structure of moral relations and the sources of morality. Skutch—world famous naturalist, ornithologist, philosopher and author of over 30 books—believed that in order to build a satisfying moral edifice we need to establish an ample and firm foundation. Moral Foundations brilliantly lays out for the reader the myriad ways in which we are products of "harmonization," a process that unites the crude elements of the world in harmonious patterns. Not only does life depend on the harmonious integration of body and mind, it demands a high degree of concord with the environment in all its aspects. The culmination of Skutch's life's work, Moral Foundations is a tour de force of analysis, research and critical thinking and an important contribution to the study of ethics and philosophy.

The Perennial Debate about Wealth, Power, Fame, Praise, Glory, and Physical Pleasure

Is desire itself desirable? Should we let our desires run unchecked, especially the passionate desires for wealth, fame, praise, power and physical pleasure? Or should we try to eliminate them? Set up as a lively debate between the best thinkers of today and yesterday, Alternative Values offers strong arguments—some logical, some empirical, some emotional, some intuitive—on each side of this debate. An excellent guide for the young (and not so young).

Six Ways We Make the Personal Choices that Shape Our Lives

What personal values are. How we decide about them. What the alternatives are. Seventy-eight value systems featured. Used in classrooms at Harvard and around the world. Praised by educators from Harvard, Yale, Stanford, the Institute for Advanced Study, the University of Virginia, Berea College and elsewhere.