Philips defends a middle ground between the view that there is a set of standards binding on rational beings as such (universalism) and the view that differences in morals reduce ultimately to matters of taste (skepticism). He begins with a sustained critique of universalist moral theories and some familiar approaches to concrete moral questions that presuppose them (most appeals to intuitions, respect for person's moralities, and versions of contractarianism and wide reflective equilibrium). He goes on to criticize major recent attempts to develop nonuniversalist alternatives to skepticism, arguing that they rely on excessively abstract and philosophically indefensible preference satisfaction theories of the good. According to Philips's positive alternative, moral standards are justified to the extent that they support reasonably valued ways of life. He devotes considerable attention to clarifying this idea and draws conclusions from it about the role and limits of reason in ethics. Philips's theory provides us with a theoretical basis for dealing with actual moral controversies and for approaching questions of applied and professional ethics in a systematic way.

Between Universalism and Skepticism: Ethics as Social Artifact

Philips, Michael

Religion & Spirituality

Oxford University Press

Intended for use with the "JAWS" series or any other readers, this book provides many activities showing ways in which supplementary readers can be used, from predicting what will happen next and role-plays, to writing a book review and designing a book cover. A cross-curricular approach to teaching is encouraged, encompassing subjects such as environment/conservation, art, current events, and maths and technology. The book is aimed at both new and experienced teachers.

Using Children's Readers in the Classroom: A Handbook for Teachers

Van Der Walt, Jenny

Reference

Heinemann International Literature and Textbooks

A captivating guide to the mistakes, lies, and delusions that rule the world and how to avoid them. What caused the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986? Why were thousands of parents wrongly accused of child sex abuse in the 1990s? Why do law courts throughout the world rely on a process that is next to useless? And why do people entrust millions of dollars each year to hedge-funds that economists agree use flawed financial models? The answer is failure. Not just any failure; but failure of knowledge. In this gripping and controversial book, Michael Phillips outlines all the reasons we don’t know what we think we do, and the devastating consequences this can have. From false memories to fraudulent experts, Phillips treads in the footsteps of Descartes to reveal why we must be more careful in what we believe and how we think. Spanning psychology, philosophy, science, and sociology, this unique exploration of why we get things wrong, and how to guard against it, is an essential read for anyone seeking to make sense of the chaotic world in which we live.

The Undercover Philosopher: A Guide to Detecting Shams, Lies and Delusions

Politics & Social Sciences

Philosophy

Oneworld Publications

This guide to Zimbabwe and Botswana gives practical advice on travelling independently or selecting a holiday, with details on everything from flights and food to white-water rafting and foot safaris. It also includes listings with a broad spectrum of budgets, catering for visitors at all levels. The options on how and where to see the wildlife, whether you're lodging in luxury or camping on a budget, are mentioned. Listings of places to stay and eat are included as well as reviews of books and music, and cultural and historical background.

Zimbabwe and Botswana: The Rough Guide, First Edition

Travel

McCrea, Barbara

Pinchuck, Tony

Phelan, Lucy

More

Africa

Rough Guides

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Books by Philips, Michael