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Does empathy help us to be moral? The author argues that empathy is often instrumental to meeting the demands of morality as defined by various ethical theories. This multi-faceted work links psychological research on empathy with ethical theory and contemporary trends in moral education.

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Acknowledgements PART I: WHY EMPATHY? Introduction: The Empathy-Morality Connection What is Empathy? PART II: THE MORAL DIMENSIONS OF EMPATHY The Epistemic Functions of Empathy Empathy, Altruism, and Normative Ethics PART III: EMPATHY AND ETHICAL THEORY Empathy and Moral Deliberation Empathy, Contractual Ethics and Justification PART IV: PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Empathy and Moral Education Conclusion: Feminist Ethics Notes Bibliography Index

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´Oxley´s book The Moral Dimensions of Empathy constitutes a remarkably wide-ranging and comprehensive study of the function of empathy in ethical contexts. Oxley´s astute and measured exploration of this subject matter makes it a rewarding read for philosophers and researchers in the social sciences.´ - Karsten Stueber, College of the Holy Cross, USA

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JULINNA OXLEY is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Women´s and Gender Studies Program at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, USA.She recently served as co-director of the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values´ Summer Ethics Academy. Her research interests include normative ethics and feminist philosophy.

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