Ethical Theory

50 Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Thought Experiments

Author: Daniel Muñoz and Sarah Stroud Series: Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Thought Experiments in Philosophy

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In this new kind of introduction to ethical theory, Daniel Muñoz and Sarah Stroud present 50 of the field’s most exciting puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments.

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Summary

In this new kind of introduction to ethical theory, Daniel Muñoz and Sarah Stroud present 50 of the field’s most exciting puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments.

Description

In this new kind of introduction to ethical theory, Daniel Muñoz and Sarah Stroud present 50 of the field’s most exciting puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments. Over the course of 11 chapters, the authors cover a huge variety of topics, starting with the classic debate between utilitarians and deontologists and ending on existential questions about the future of humanity.

Every chapter begins with a helpful introduction, and each of the 50 entries includes references for further reading and questions for reflection. Among the entries are such classics as the Ring of Gyges, Jim and the Villagers, the Repugnant Conclusion, JoJo, “One Thought Too Many,” the Miners Puzzle, the Gentle Murder Paradox, Nowheresville, the Experience Machine, and the Trolley Problem. The book also explores several more recent topics of interest, such as doxastic wronging and the ethics of AI, so that even advanced students are likely to discover something new. Each entry can be read on its own, and the writing is accessible and conversational throughout, making this an ideal resource for undergraduate teaching. Readers at any level can pick up this book and see for themselves how fascinating—and puzzling—ethical theory can be.

Key Features:

Offers 50 puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments, with every entry including the following elements:
- Presentation of the case
- Discussion of responses to and implications of the case
- A reading list which cites the classic presentation of the case and recommends several other treatments or responses
- Questions for reflection
- Coverage of each of the 50 is self-contained, allowing students to quickly understand an issue and giving instructors flexibility in assigning readings to match the themes of the course.
- Additional pedagogical features include a general volume introduction as well as smaller introductions to each of the 11 larger, topic-oriented chapters.

About the Author

Daniel Muñoz is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Core Faculty in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. He received his PhD from MIT in 2019, and is writing a book about the foundations of deontology entitled What We Owe to Ourselves.

Sarah Stroud is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. She has published widely in ethical theory, moral psychology, and metaethics and was a co-editor (with Hugh LaFollette, Editor-in-Chief, and John Deigh) of The International Encyclopedia of Ethics (9 volumes; 2013).