The World's Best Book Summaries
What is data manipulation in research? What are methods of data manipulation you should avoid? Unfortunately, some researchers manipulate data to fit their hypothesis. In Bad Science, Ben Goldacre discusses the ethics of altering data in an unprofessional way. Check out how to spot data manipulation in research.
What is ESG investing? Is ESG investing good? What are the pros and cons? Republicans have pledged to pass legislation limiting or even prohibiting corporations from investing in ESG (environmental, social, and governmental) initiatives. However, ESG supporters argue that there are solid economic reasons to support such initiatives. Read on to learn if ESG investing is a good choice by learning the pros and cons of ESG initiatives.
What is fast fashion and why is it bad? How do clothing brands, like Shein or Zara, affect the environment? A recent investigation found that laborers at a $100 billion clothing giant earn as little as 4 cents per item and work up to 18 hours a day. This is just one of the problems with fast fashion. The industry also has a huge impact on the environment, contributing to climate change, landfill waste, and plastic pollution. Read on to learn more about what fast fashion is and why it’s bad for society and the environment.
Is morality baked into our DNA or enforced by law or religion? Would humans act ethically if there was no punishment for immoral behavior? The question of morality is a complicated one. In moral psychology, there are perspectives both in favor and against the good-naturedness of human beings. Below, we’ll explore both sides of the argument and why the matter of morality is so pertinent in our day and age.
How should issues of morality be treated in politics? Should the government embrace one view of morality or avoid enforcing any specific moral code? Morality is a contentious subject in political philosophy. Liberalists argue that we should deemphasize moral questions in favor of reason and logic. Proponents of Aristotle’s political theory, on the other hand, consider moral questions crucial for politics. Michael Sandel contrasts the two philosophies and how they might inform real-life political debates pertaining to morality.
What is the difference between utilitarianism vs. libertarianism? Can the two be reconciled? To what extent should government restrict personal freedoms to ensure public safety and well-being? Utilitarianism states that government should only concern itself with maximizing public welfare. Libertarianism, on the other hand, says that government should only concern itself with maximizing personal freedoms. Michael Sandel explores the difference between these two ideologies and how their views apply to real-life political questions.
What causes us to make immoral decisions that hurt other human beings? How does the human tendency to seek social approval jeopardize morality? At its heart, human nature is inherently good and moral because morality has survival value. However, we often make immoral choices because we irrationally base our decisions on what other people are doing rather than on what we think is right. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind moral decision-making.
What is the Rawlsian approach to justice? How does Rawls’s conception of justice differ from Immanuel Kant’s? John Rawls conceptualizes justice entirely in terms of reason. However, unlike Kant, who appeals to universal moral laws, Rawls focuses entirely on how a group of equally competent and entirely rational individuals would organize society. Keep reading to learn about Rawlsian theory of justice.
Is abortion ethical? Approaching the question from the opposite angle, is it ethical to deny women the right to abortion? Abortion is a morally contentious subject. In his book Justice, American political philosopher Michael Sandel examines the contemporary debates over abortion ethics by contrasting two opposing perspectives: the rational perspective and the moral-centric perspective. Let’s examine the argument for each.
Is paid surrogacy ethical? What are some ethical issues associated with surrogate motherhood? While surrogate motherhood allows infertile and non-heterosexual couples to experience the joy of parenthood, it also brings a host of ethical concerns. Some people go as far as saying that there is no such thing as ethical surrogacy. Let’s explore the ethics of paid surrogacy by considering three contrasting perspectives on the matter.