Ethics

By: J.-M. Kuczynski

Narrated by: Theo Holland

Length: 1 hr and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

A brisk introduction to the basic problems of ethics, this work consists of sharp, deep answers to foundational questions:

• Do legal obligations have moral weight?
• Can one act immorally towards oneself?
• What is the objective basis of legitimate moral claims?
• How do we know right from wrong?
• How can there be moral responsibility in a deterministic world?

Rigorous yet approachable, this work is an ideal introduction to analytic ethics and value theory.

©2016 John-Michael Kuczynski (P)2016 John-Michael Kuczynski

the ultimate book on analyic value theory

Would you listen to Ethics again? Why?

yes, it is insightful, yet clear, rigorous yet lyrical, a perfect book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

my favorite parts concerned moral epistemology. there were no characters, since this is discursive, not narrative

Which character – as performed by Theo Holland – was your favorite?

see above

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

theo holland has a someone constricted emotoinal and vocal range, but it was sort of ok in this context. this is not kuczynski's best work, but it is still a perfect work.

the definitive book for ethicists

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

it explains everything, the different metaethical systems, the ethical basis of law, the nature of morality and our knowledge thereof, puts other books to shame.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ethics?

the part where he showed the knowledge of moral truths is knowledge (from a context-specific, egocentric viewpoint) of knowledge of biological truths

Have you listened to any of Theo Holland’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes, his reading of kuczynski book on descartes

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes, the discussion of freedom of the will

Any additional comments?

utterly comprehensive, better than any philosophy class

the book ethicists should read

Would you listen to Ethics again? Why?

yes, clear, beautiful, concise, thorough

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ethics?

the discussion of feminism

Which scene was your favorite?

the discussion of stalin

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

that determinism is necessary for freedom

Any additional comments?

not as good as international law, by same author, but still very good.

Rigorous material for serious minds

I highly recommend this to fellow professors who want their students to understand the foundations of Ethics. The author is sharp and provides deep insights into questions such as "What is the objective basis of legitimate moral claims?" I have worked with students who struggled with analytic ethics and value theory. This is the book that I keep returning to because Dr. Kuczynski is the expert. The narration by Theo Holland was easy to listen to as well. Overall, the Dr's work is impeccable.

everything you need to know about ethics

What did you love best about Ethics?

it was clear, logical and thorough...and entertaining. it was understatedly wry. i just loved it!

What did you like best about this story?

the quiet sarcasm

What about Theo Holland’s performance did you like?

the dead pan delivery offset the complexity of the subject matter, made it less busy somehow, easier to take in.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the discussion of freedom of the will in connection with stalin

Any additional comments?

better than any college course i took

hands down the go-book for analytic ethicists

highly consonant with common sense. clear, lucid, approachable, thorough. good discussion of the distinction between law and morality. a bit logical and angular, but clear as a bell and consistently witty

superb in its analytical way

If you could sum up Ethics in three words, what would they be?

dry but good

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ethics?

the discussion of moral responsibility

What does Theo Holland bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

a dryness, which is consistent with the dryness of the material

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

not quite, almost

Any additional comments?

a lot of information, i wish the author wrote fiction thought, since he obviously has a knack for it, which is wasting on this boring philosophy stuff

amazingly listenable

lives up to the description. indeed brisk and yet thorough. the narrator has a southern usa twang that i don't much care for, but still passable. ideal for undergrads and intellectual laypersons.