As societies continue to grow and change, humans find themselves facing many important ethical questions. Is the pursuit of happiness a worthwhile goal? Should religion be immune to criticism?
These questions and many others are addressed in Speaking of Ethics, a collection of the works of Dr. Joseph Chuman, highlighting his main ethical concerns. For the past forty-five years, Chuman has been serving as an Ethical Culture leader, inspiring his congregants through some of their toughest personal challenges. These experiences paired with his academic acumen, give him a fresh and astute perspective on ethics today.
Chuman takes a broad-view approach that addresses the conditions that create dilemmas, rather than focusing on oversimplified right/wrong situations. Speaking of Ethics, with its conversational tone and accessible language, shares Chuman's thoughts in a way that provokes contemplation and discussion among its readers.
The various sections of Speaking of Ethics give a stimulating glimpse at the foundations of Ethical Culture, as well as some of the biggest philosophical questions regarding private and public ethics.
Readers will also learn about some of the top heroes of the Humanist world, from John Dewey and Ralph Waldo Emerson to the early feminists and Baruch Spinoza.
About the Author: For more than forty-five years, Dr. Joseph Chuman has served as the professional leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, New Jersey. He also serves part-time as a leader of the New York Society for Ethical Culture.
He holds a PhD and two master's degrees in religion from Columbia University, where he now works as a professor of human rights for their graduate program. He has also taught human rights at Hunter College, the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica, and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Throughout his extensive career as a progressive social activist, he has commonly lectured on topics including politics, philosophy, social ethics, and religion. He has also written a wide range of articles for newspapers, journals of opinion, academic texts, and encyclopedias.
Not just an academic, Chuman is passionate about living out his beliefs by helping others, and has spent years guiding his Ethical Culture congregants through their toughest life transitions.
