An introduction to Living ethics in theory and practice

In the face of unprecedented and global environmental, political, economic, technological, and social challenges, questions about what constitutes a “good life” abound. In response, ethics has grown both as a scholarly field of activity and a social practice; yet it has been criticized for being overly abstract and disconnected from everyday realities. Such observations led to the development of a living ethics stance, which attempts to make the act of making ethics contributive to human flourishing, create opportunities for participation and for connections to lived experience, and promote practical changes that reflect important values and concerns. This first volume dedicated to living ethics includes 19 original contributions structured in three parts: (1) theoretical and conceptual issues (e.g., exploration of the theoretical foundations of living ethics); (2) living ethics in practice (e.g., contributions proposing or discussing the enactment of a living ethics stance in specific contexts); and (3) methodological questions and future living ethics research (e.g., new research questions and topics to be tackled through a living ethics stance). We hope this edited volume brings strength to the ideas and aspirations associated with living ethics while encouraging others to further the work needed.