Fundamental Concepts – Second, revised and expanded edition
Christian Erk
Abstract
This book is a systematic introduction to moral philosophy (or as it is also called: ethics) that aims at raising its readers’ ethical literacy and competence. Starting from the nature and end of this science it examines the fundamental questions and concepts of ethics. The core chapters familiarise the reader with the elements of a human act, outline how these elements influence the ethical quality of such act and shed light on the standard of morality, i.e. the good. The book furthermore clarifies the concepts of duty, right as well as responsibility and explicates the moral duties and rights of the human person. In doing so it also elucidates the notions of human dignity and the common good. Last but not least, the book contains a range of practical tools that help the reader put ethical theory into practice. The comprehensive appendix contains chapters on the virtues, propositional logic and arguments.
About the Author
Dr. phil. Christian Erk is lecturer in business ethics at the University of St. Gallen and lecturer in management and ethics at the University of Liechtenstein. He studied business economics and political theory at the University of St. Gallen, the Copenhagen Business School and the London School of Economics. Having completed his PhD in political philosophy at the University of Zurich, he held an assistant professorship for management and ethics at the University of St. Gallen where he also completed his habilitation in the field of business ethics. His publications and research focus on general and applied ethics (esp. business, social and bioethics) as well as management theory.
