Navigating Right and Wrong: Ethical Decision Making in a Pluralistic Age

How should I live my life? Is there really anything that is inherently right or wrong? These may sound like simple questions, but finding answers to them is anything but simple-particularly in an age of ethical pluralism. In our multicultural, multiethnic world, is there any meaningful way to talk about moral obligations? Daniel Lee says yes. In Navigating Right and Wrong, this long-time ethicist and teacher helps us begin to reconcile our personal moral commitments with an openness to alternatives, with an eye to responsibly negotiating ethics and morality in our pluralistic age. Through concise, thoughtful prose and engaging anecdotes, Lee introduces readers to various philosophical and theological moral theories, ultimately arguing that we must embrace a faith-based ethics, or succumb to the alternative-ethical subjectivism. In the final analysis, Lee asserts, we can do no more than acknowledge that the value claims we make are part of the faith we affirm, be it one that is explicitly religious or entirely secular in nature. Assuming no prior philosophical knowledge, Navigating Right and Wrong will be of use to general readers, students, and anyone else who has ever earnestly asked the question, Is there really anything that is right or wrong?

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 "Without Justice, What Are Kingdoms but Great Robberies?" Chapter 2 What Counts as Justice? Chapter 3 Which Is the House of True Morality? Chapter 4 But Isn't Faith Dangerous? Chapter 5 Waht Ought to Count above All Else? Chapter 6 Is a Public Morality Possible?

About the Author :
Daniel E. Lee is professor of religion (ethics) at Augustana College. He is the author of four other books on ethics and justice.

Review :
Navigating Right and Wrong is a gem of a book-beautifully written, concise, and engaging, a great way for students to be introduced to faith-based ethics. I recommend it highly. Lee allows us to see his own values and thought process. For anyone who is either forming or 'reforming' such beliefs, it is illuminating to see the author's journey to his own confession of faith. Lee's use of contemporary references also will keep readers interested. His ability to reach across time and place to interest his reader will assist anyone who selects the book for undergraduate study. I could envision using this book as a supplementary text for a variety of undergraduate courses in leadership, management, law and society, public policy, and political process. In our current climate of political conflict, corporate exesses, and cultural strife, this volume would at least cause our future leaders to think about the ethical dimension when making decisions.. This book will be ideal for introductory ethics courses, especially the growing numbers of them that are being taught across the curriculum. It will be very useful in any course that concerns itself with the practical problems of relativism vs. absolutism in ethics and politics. Instructors new to teaching ethics will especially like Lee's clarity, stories, and down-to-earth style. Lee allows us to see his own values and thought process. For anyone who is either forming or 'reforming' such beliefs, it is illuminating to see the author's journey to his own confession of faith. Lee's use of contemporary references also will keep readers interested. His ability to reach across time and place to interest his reader will assist anyone who selects the book for undergraduate study. I could envision using this book as a supplementary text for a variety of undergraduate courses in leadership, management, law and society, public policy, and political process. In our current climate of political conflict, corporate exesses, and cultural strife, this volume would at least cause our future leaders to think about the ethical dimension when making decisions.