what is this thing called ethics?

What is morality? How do we define what is right and wrong? How does moral theory help us deal with ethical issues in the world around us?

This engaging introduction explores these central questions and more with clear explanation of complex ideas. Christopher Bennett eases the reader in with examples of contemporary and relevant ethical problems, before looking at the main theoretical approaches and key philosophers associated with them.

Topics covered include:

• life and death issues such as abortion and global poverty
• the meaning of life
• major moral theories such as utilitarianism, Kantian ethics and virtue ethics
• critiques of morality from Marx and Nietzsche.

All chapters have been revised and updated for this 2nd edition, with a final chapter on meta-ethics new to this edition.

What is this thing called Ethics? now contains boxed case studies within chapters. Each chapter ends with questions for discussion that are especially useful in seminars and annotated suggestions for further reading that aid independent study. This is an ideal introduction to ethics for philosophy students coming to the subject for the first time.

Christopher Bennett is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, UK. His research interests include moral, political and legal philosophy. His previous publications include The Apology Ritual: A Philosophical Theory of Punishment (2008).