Why It's Hard to be Good
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Book Overview
In a series of brief chapters, Al Gini lays out ideas for 'stepping out of the shadow of the self' - an argument for stopping thinking of yourself as the centre of the universe. It's hard to be good, he explains, until we realize that being good only has meaning in relation to other people. Ideas of justice, fairness, and ethical behavior are just that - abstract ideas - until they are put into action with regard to people outside ourselves. We may worry too much about good versus evil - big concepts that give us plenty of room to sit on the right side of the equation, he argues. Instead, we need to be thinking about how being good involves an active relationship toward others. Being good all by yourself may not be good enough. This warm and generous book is for anyone who wants to know how to use ethical thinking as way to live, work, and be with others.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0415972639
ISBN13:9780415972635
Release Date:December 2005
Publisher:Routledge
Length:252 Pages
Weight:0.91 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 6.5" x 8.6"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
A Great Book on Being Good
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Professor Gini has written an excellent book describing the difficulties and the importance of being good. The problem is that we are easily consumed with ourselves: our own wants and our own desires. Once we become consumed with ourselves, we begin to seek our own desires at the expense of other people. If we have to run over others to fulfill our own desires, so be it. Gini provides a good explanation as to why we tend to be so narcissistic. What is great about "Why It's Hard To Be Good" is that it provides a way out of our narcissistic tendencies. Ethics is always about how we treat others. What truly gives fulfillment to our lives is being in a caring community. Indeed, it is never easy to do the right thing, and we all make mistakes, but the point is that ethics is always concerned with others. The ability to see beyond our own desires and to be open to the needs and desires of others is the challenge posed by ethics. "Why It's Hard To Be Good" is relatively short, but far from superficial. Gini added many real life ethical dilemmas, making the book even more interesting and challenging. Highly recommended. [...]
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