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IS IT STILL CHEATING IF I DON’T GET CAUGHT?  by Bruce Weinstein

IS IT STILL CHEATING IF I DON’T GET CAUGHT?

by Bruce Weinstein and illustrated by Harriet Russell

Pub Date: April 1st, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59643-306-9
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Weinstein, a professional ethicist who writes a syndicated column as The Ethics Guy®, offers an accessible guide to living an ethical life and sound, practical advice for applying ethical principles in a variety of scenarios. Following a concise introduction to the origins of the concepts of ethics and morality, Weinstein addresses three myths about ethics. He uses the example of Rosa Parks to illustrate the ethical myth of “if it’s legal, it’s right.” The two other myths are “if everybody’s doing it, it must be right,” and “if it feels right, it is right.” The author suggests adopting five ethical principles to serve as guidelines for doing the right thing: do no harm; make things better; respect others; be fair; be loving. After elaborating on the meaning of each of these “Life Principles,” he illustrates applications in situations involving such issues as cheating, plagiarism, dating, lying to parents and friends, online social networking, peer pressure and shoplifting. This appealing guide speaks to the ethical dilemmas that all young people experience in their daily lives, and it should prompt considerable conversation and reflection. (Nonfiction. 10-14)