REVIEW
of What
Would Jesus Really Do?
"Fiala (philosophy, California State Univ., Fresno) has frequently taught ethics to undergraduate students coming from varying moral, theological, and philosophical perspectives. Some are committed believers, while others are more skeptical. Here, Fiala synthesizes years of teaching and debate into an objective ethics textbook. He carefully elaborates on Jesus's fundamental moral teachings, as articulated in the New Testament, and extrapolates from these principles a moral system extending to modern situations like abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, human sexuality, and social welfare—situations unfamiliar to the historical Jesus. He also incorporates the ethical reflections of great philosophers and psychologists like Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud. His concisely written and succinctly argued survey of ethical studies is complete with chapter conclusions, notes, and a helpful index. Though intended for classroom instruction, it is equally appropriate for anyone interested in reflecting on living an ethical and moral life in today's world and well suited to a contemporary audience searching for truth. Readers may also be interested in Fiala's other scholarly contributions, Tolerance and the Ethical Life, Practical Pacifism and The Philosopher's Voice. Recommended for all libraries."
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