Suggested reading list

This page is a bibliographic listing of books and articles on ethics recommended by the Defence Ethics Programme.

Categories

• General readings in ethics
• Government ethics
• Military ethics

General readings in ethics

KIDDER, Rushworth M., Moral Courage, Harper Collins Publishers, 2003. (308 pages) ISBN-006-059154-4

• Moral Courage is a guidebook that uses key concepts and tools to help readers have an ethical understanding and response to moral challenges in the workplace, at home, and in the community.

RACHELS, James, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, McGraw-Hill Inc., 1986. (168 pages) ISBN 007-553939

• This book explores multiple moral theories and subjects. It examines the challenges of cultural relativism, subjectivism in ethics, psychological egoism, ethical egoism, utilitarian approach, Kantian ethics and the theory of the social contract.

SPENCER, Emily J., & Dr. Daniel Lagacé-Roy, Ethical Decision-Making in the New Security Environment, Vol. 2, Canadian Defence Academy Press, 2006. (149 pages) ISBN 978-0-662-47335

• Ethical Decision-Making in the New Security Environment is the second volume of proceedings from the 7th Canadian Conference on Ethical Leadership held at the Royal Military College of Canada on 28-29 November 2006.

Government ethics

DAVIS, Barry, Susie Kukkonjen, Mark Scullard & Julie Straw, The Work of Leaders, Wiley: San Francisco, 2013. (218 pages) ISBN 978-1-119-02204-6

• This book presents a simple structure that neatly captures the complexity of contemporary leadership. Its aims to make leadership insight accessible to anyone who wants to be a better leader.

Éthiques et dilemmes dans les organisations, Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 2005.  (183 pages) ISBN 2-7637-8316-3

• Éthiques et dilemmes dans les organisations examines the debate on ethics in organizations, the dilemmas that are growing more important at work and the topics discussed at the 60th annual industrial relations conference.

FORBES, Ian & Mark Hoffman, Political Theory, International Relations and the Ethics of Intervention, St. Martin’s Press, 1993. (249 pages) ISBN 0-333-47376-0

• This book discusses the discourse and practice of intervention and non-intervention in international relations. It examines the nature of intervention in world politics, traditional accounts and intervention as a social construct.

LEGAULT, Georges A., Professionnalisme et délibération éthique, Presses de l’Université du Québec, 2004. (290 pages) ISBN 2-7605-1033-6

• Professionnalisme et délibération éthique presents professional ethics by situating it in the current context of professions and then proposes a systematic approach to ethical deliberation where the aim is to promote responsible decision-making and dialogue.

Military ethics

CHESTERMAN, Simon, Just War or Just Peace? Humanitarian Intervention and International Law, Oxford, 2001. (295 pages) ISBN 0-19-924337-9

• Just War or Just Peace? examines the right of humanitarian intervention, as demonstrated by NATO in its 1999 airstrikes over Kosovo. It examines the role of the United Nations and how it has changed the views of humanitarian intervention.

Défense nationale, Servir avec honneur, Défense nationale, 2009. (81 pages) ISBN 0-662-675661-4

• Servir avec honneur describes the profession of arms in Canada for the benefit of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and all citizens. It presents the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the military profession and its ethos, and codifies what it means to be a military professional.

GABRIEL, Richard A., À la manière des guerriers, Presse de l’Académie canadienne de la Défense: Kingston, 2009. (233 pages) ISBN 978-1-100-9036-9

• This book is an addition to other achievements from the successful strategic leadership writing project by the Canadian Armed Forces Leadership Institute and the Canadian Defence Academy.

GABRIEL, Richard A., The Warrior’s Way: A Treatise on Military Ethics, Canadian Defense Academy Press: Kingston, 2009. (233 pages) ISBN 978-1-100-9036-9

• This book is an addition to other achievements from the successful strategic leadership writing project by the Canadian Armed Forces Leadership Institute and the Canadian Defence Academy.

National Defence, Duty with Honour, National Defence, 2009. (81 pages) ISBN 0-662-67561-4

• Duty with Honour describes the profession of arms in Canada for the benefit of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and all citizens. It presents the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the military profession and its ethos, and codifies what it means to be a military professional.

SORABI, Richard, & David Rodin, The Ethics of War: Shared Problems in Different Traditions, Ashgate, 2007. (253 pages) ISBN 0-7546-5449-4

• The Ethics of War: Shared Problems in Different Traditions examines how different cultures have reacted to similar issues. It examines how different religions and the Geneva Conventions have dealt with the reoccurring ethical challenges of war.

STOUFFER, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff, & Dr. Stefan Seiler, Military Ethics: International Perspectives, Canadian Defence Academy Press, 2010. (307 pages) ISBN 978-1-100-16318-5

• Military Ethics: International Perspectives discusses how militaries prepare and deal with ethical issues and how military personnel are trained to respond to ethical situations at home and during an operation.

WALKER, Robert W., Institutional Leadership in the Canadian Forces: Contemporary Issues, Canadian Defence Academy Press, 2007. (203 pages) ISBN: 978-0-662-45200-3

• Institutional Leadership in the Canadian Forces: Contemporary Issues discusses the need for an effective and changing military leadership response to the increasingly dangerous and complex global security environment by examining issues and ethical challenges within the Canadian Forces. 

WALZER, Micheal, Just War and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations, 2^nd edit., Basic books: New York, 1992. (400 pages)  ISBN: 046037011

• This book examines a variety of conflicts and draws on historical illustrations from the Athenian attack on Melos to news headlines, and uses the testimony of participants to examine the moral issues of warfare.