Morality and the movies : reading ethics through film

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Title:

Author:

Shaw, Daniel, 1951-

ISBN:

9781441145413

Personal Author:

Shaw, Daniel, 1951-

Publication Information:

New York : Continuum, c2012.

Physical Description:

197 p. ; 22 cm.

Contents:

Submission to God's will in A man for all seasons -- Egoism and utilitarianism in Casablanca -- Social contract theory in The man who shot Liberty Valence -- Kant: morality as rational consistency -- Relativism, perspectivism, and Citizen Kane -- Moral virtue and the limits of friendship in Nichomachean ethics and The third man -- Freedom and determinism in A clockwork orange -- Kinsey and sexual morality -- Active euthanasia and The sea inside -- Capital punishment and compassion in Dead man walking -- The morality and meaning of war in Full metal jacket -- Individual autonomy and abortion rights in The cider house rules -- Bowling for Columbine and gun control -- Terrorism and counterterrorism in Munich -- The ethics of business in Wall Street -- Affirmative action and diversity in Remember the Titans -- Conclusion: how films can be philosophical and how philosophy can light up the screen.

Subject Term:

Ethics in motion pictures.

Film criticism.

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168025570074	791.43653 S534M 2012	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Morality and the Movies presents the ideal introduction to philosophical ethics for film lovers. Dan Shaw uses a series of sixteen popular films, including Hotel Rwanda , Casablanca , Citizen Kane , A Clockwork Orange , Dead Man Walking and Full Metal Jacket , to illustrate all the major ethical theories and key contemporary moral issues. The book provides a brief summary and philosophical interpretation of each film, with reference throughout to primary philosophical sources. A unique pedagogical feature is that each chapter begins with a five-step summary of the theoretical position in question and a critical evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses through a specific film. Topics covered include:

- divine authority
- the social contract
- moral relativism
- virtue ethics
- freedom and determinism
- euthanasia
- capital punishment
- war and terrorism
- abortion
- business ethics

Ideal for undergraduate students coming to philosophical ethics for the first time, this book utilizes popular film to introduce a central topic in the study of philosophy.