Western Ethics

This volume provides a wide-ranging and lucid introducing to the major ethical theories found in the history of Western philosophy.The book begins with the ethical thought of Socrates and the Sophists in the fifth century BC and concludes with the philosophy of Nietzsche at the end of the nineteenth-century. An epilogue traces parallels between twentieth century ethical theories and those found in the previous history of the subject.Special attention is given to theories that have exerted considerable influence on contemporary ethics, namely those of Aristotle, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, and Mill. With regard to these theories, readers are referred to major differences of interpretation found in the secondary literature. A lengthy chapter is devoted to ethics during the Hellenistic period, and another covers highlights of the medieval period, including Thomistic natural law theory. There is a chapter on Spinoza and one on the main points of Hegel's ethical theory. A list of recommended readings is provided at the end of the book.