Ethics: A Very Short Introduction A Very Short Introduction

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. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

1 - The Threat of the Death of God
2 - The Threat of Relativism
3 - The Threat of Egoism
4 - The Threat from Evolutionary Theory
5 - The Threat of Determinism and Futility
6 - The Threat of Unreasonable Demands
7 - The Threat of False Consciousness
8 - Birth
9 - Death
10 - Desire and the Meaning of Life
11 - Pleasure
12 - The Greatest Happiness of the Greatest Number
13 - Freedom from the Bad
14 - Freedom and Paternalism
15 - Rights and Natural Rights
16 - Reasons and Foundations
17 - Living Well and Doing Good
18 - The Categorical Imperative
19 - Contracts and Discourse
20 - The Common Point of View
21 - Confidence Restored

Simon Blackburn is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Until recently he was Edna J. Doury Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, and from 1969 to 1999 a Fellow and Tutor at Pembroke College, Oxford. His books include Spreading the Word (1984), Essays in Quasi-Realism (1993), The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1994), Ruling Passions (1998), and Truth (co-edited with Keith Simmons, 1999), and the best-selling Think (1999). He edited the journal Mind from 1984 to 1990.