Preface
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Seven Threats to Ethics
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
Some Ethical Ideas
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
Foundations?
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
Further Reading
Index
Simon Blackburn is Professor of Philosophy at the University of
Cambridge. Until recently he was Edna J. Koury Distinguished
Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, and
from 1969 to 1990 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), Truth (co-edited with
Keith Simmons, 1999), and the best-selling Think (1999). He edited
the journal Mind from 1984 to 1990.
`Review from previous edition Simon Blackburn's short book takes
the big moral questions head on and does so brilliantly. . . a
witty, vivid writer with an enviable popular touch . . . this is a
wonderfully enlightening book.'
Ben Rogers, Sunday Telegraph, March 25 2001
`full of good sense'
Sunday Times 21/04/2002
`But for anyone wondering how big questions have bothered us over
the years, this witty, rigorous book fills in the gaps.'
PLAY, The Times, 02/03/2002
`always lively and never simplistic'
Waterstone's Quarterly January 2002
`Good clearheaded stuff'
Ted Honderich Times 21/03/01
`'enjoyable and extremely readable . . . Blackburn . . . is breezy,
helpful, reassuring''
The Philosopher's Magazine
`'sparklingly clear''
Guardian
`'a first rate and accessible guide which tackles the huge,
perpetual questions''
Nottingham Evaning Post
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