Contemporary Ethics Collection

When it comes to ethics, both theory and action must be considered. We must ask ourselves: how do I apply principles of equity and well being of others? To be sure, one cannot learn an art form without first observing and reflecting upon it. This also holds true for ethics. It is important that the authors or recipients of an ethical (or « anti-ethical ») act be aware of its mechanisms and its concrete effects.

The purpose of the "Ethique vivante" series, published by L'Harmattan, is to be a forum for all who strive to lead an ethical life. Personal accounts are presented “as is”, without further analysis or commentary. The power and impact of these personal experiences should speak for themselves, and the reader may, at times, identify with these accounts. They are often anonymous, sometimes gathered from specific social environments, or given by public figures (in arts, literature, science, etc). These anecdotes, that include both experiences and reflections, inner thoughts and courses of action, speak to how ethical acts affect us all, all the time. These accounts may serve as an incentive or an additive to anyone who wishes to deepen the practice of ethics in a personal and concrete way.

The "Ethique vivante" series, therefore, completes and illustrates the work that was set forth in the "Ethique au quotidien" and "Ethique en contextes" series. These series form a single vision: help us acquire or invent ways of being ethical, while engaging in an in-depth reflection on the means and motivations by which we can develop our true humanity.