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Ethics

a very short introduction

Simon Blackburn

Buch

englisch

Blackburn, Simon (Verfasser/-in) DNB

Very short introductions

Oxford University Press

Oxford ; New York

2003

139 p.

978-0-19-280442-6

Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-136) and index.

ethics
introduction

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' 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.

Table of Contents:
Terms of Use
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

0

Ill.