From the Publisher
“Unflaggingly engaging, witty, and completely true to the underlying philosophical issues.”
—Robert Paul Wolff, author of About Philosophy
“Stop! Before you throw anyone off the bridge or under the bus, grab this witty, intelligent, and fast-paced treatise on ethical reasoning and chuckle your way to fresh moral insight. With Tom Cathcart as guide, you’ll discover the pleasure of ethics without the sermon.”
—Marvin M. Ellison, ethicist and author of Making Love Just: Sexual Ethics for Perplexing Times
“Cathcart’s probing exploration of the complex nuances of moral reasoning takes you on an intellectual journey both stimulating and educational. This riveting little book is grounded, relevant, and fun. If you enjoy wrestling with ethical challenges, it’s a must read.”
—Gregory Stock, author, The Book of Questions
“Clang, clang, clang goes the trolley problem! Join Tom Cathcart on a wild ride through the various permutations of this philosophical puzzle, as he picks up such disparate passengers as Jeremy Bentham, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Aquinas, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Peter Singer along the way. While there may be blood on the tracks, Cathcart will guide you to a thought-provoking final stop.”
—Tim Madigan, Associate Professor of Philosophy, St. John Fisher College and columnist, Philosophy Now Magazine
“Does the sacredness of our fundamental right to life trump the utility of doing the greatest good for the greatest number? If harming an innocent person was not the intention of our action but was a foreseeable consequence—as in drone strikes or as in taking medical care from some to aid others—how are we to judge this? Cathcart’s new book on the trolley problem brings out the inner moral philosopher hidden in all of us: its gets us to think about the importance of moral reasoning by luring us into doing it.”
—Kenneth Sharpe, Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College and coauthor of Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do The Right Thing
“Clearly written and dramatically presented, Thomas Cathcart’s The Trolley Problem is an excellent introduction to ethics. It's a pedagogical classic.”
—John Perry, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University, and author of The Art of Procrastination
“Entertaining, informative and presented in an original format. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sympathetic route through the big moral questions of the day.”
—Robert Rowland Smith, author of Breakfast with Socrates and Driving with Plato
