Ethics: A Very Short Introduction

by Blackburn, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780192804426
• ISBN10: 0192804421
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Our self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures is dogged by scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism, by the fear that in a Godless world science has unmasked us as creatures fated by our genes to be selfish and tribalistic, or competitive and aggressive. In this 'sparklingly clear'(Guardian) introduction to ethics Simon Blackburn tackles the major moral questions surrounding birth, death, happiness, desire and freedom, showing us how we should think about the meaning of life, and how we should mistrust the soundbite-sized absolutes that often dominate moral debates.

Author Biography

Simon Blackburn is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Illustrations

Introduction

Seven Threats to Ethics

The Threat of the Death of God

The Threat of Relativism

The Threat of Egoism

The Threat from Evolutionary Theory

The Threat of Determinism and Futility

The Threat of Unreasonable Demands

The Threat of False Consciousness

Some Ethical Ideas

Birth

Death

Desire and the Meaning of Life

Pleasure

The Greatest Happiness of the Greatest Number

Freedom from the Bad

Freedom and Paternalism

Rights and Natural Rights

Foundations?

Reasons and Foundations

Living Well and Doing Good

The Categorical Imperative

Contracts and Discourse

The Common Point of View

Confidence Restored

Further Reading

Index

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