The Routledge Companion to Ethics is an outstanding survey of the whole field of ethics by a distinguished international team of contributors. Over 60 chapters are divided into six clear sections:
- the history of ethics
- meta-ethics
- perspectives from outside ethics
- ethical perspectives
- morality
- debates in ethics.
The Companion opens with a comprehensive historical overview of ethics, including chapters on Plato, Aristotle, Hume, and Kant, and ethical thinking in China, India and the Arabic tradition. The second part covers the domain of meta-ethics. The third part covers important challenges to ethics from the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociobiology and economics. The fourth and fifth sections cover competing theories of ethics and the nature of morality respectively, with entries on consequentialism, Kantian morality, virtue ethics, relativism, evil, and responsibility amongst many others. A comprehensive final section includes the most important topics and controversies in applied ethics, such as rights, justice and distribution, the end of life, the environment, poverty, war and terrorism.
The Routledge Companion to Ethics is a superb resource for anyone interested in the subject, whether in philosophy or related disciplines such as politics, education, or law. Fully indexed and cross-referenced, with helpful further reading sections at the end of each chapter, it is ideal for those coming to the field of ethics for the first time as well as readers already familiar with the subject.
Preface Part 1: History 1. Ethical Thought in China Yang Xiao 2. Ethical Thought in India Stephen Clark 3. Plato and Socrates Richard Kraut 4. Aristotle C.C.W. Taylor 5. Later Ancient Ethics A.A. Long 6. The Arabic Tradition Peter Adamson 7. Natural Law Knud Haakonssen 8. Hobbes Bernard Gert 9. Ethics and Reason Mike LeBuffe 10. Ethics and Sentiment Michael Gill 11. Hume James Harris 12. Smith Craig Smith 13. Utilitarianism to Bentham Fred Rosen 14. Kant Thomas Hill 15. Hegel Ken Westphal 16. Mill Henry West 17. Green, Bradley and Sidgwick T.H. Irwin 18. Nietzsche Maudmarie Clark 19. Pragmatist Moral Philosophy Alan Ryan 20. Existentialism Jonathan Webber 21. Heidegger Stephen Mulhall Part 2: Meta-ethics 22. Ethics, Religion, Science Simon Blackburn 23. Freedom and Responsibility Randolph Clarke 24. Reasons for Action Robert Audi 25. ‘Open Question’ Arguments Thomas Baldwin 26. Realism and its Alternatives Peter Railton 27. Non-cognitivism Alex Miller 28. Error Theory and Fictionalism Nadeem Hussain 29. Cognitivism Without Realism Andrew Fisher 30. Relativism Nick Sturgeon Part 3: Ideas and Methods from Outside Ethics 31. Social Anthropology James Laidlaw 32. Psychology Jesse Prinz 33. Biology Michael Ruse 34. Formal Methods in Ethics Erik Carlson 35. Ethics and Law John Gardner Part 4: Perspectives in Ethics 36. Reasons, Values and Morality Simon Robertson 37. Consequentialism Brad Hooker 38. Contemporary Kantian Ethics Andrews Reath 39. Intuitionism Philip Stratton-Lake 40. Virtue Ethics Michael Slote 41. Contractualism Rahul Kumar 42. Contemporary Natural Law Theory Anthony J. Lisska 43. Feminist Ethics Samantha Brennan 44. Ethics and Aesthetics Robert Stecker Part 5: Morality 45. Morality and its Critics Stephen Darwall 46. Conscience John Skorupski 47. Recognition, Respect Allen Wood 48. Blame, Remorse, Mercy, Forgiveness Christopher Bennett 49. Evil Geoffrey Scarre 50. Responsibility: Intention and Consequence Suzanne Uniacke 51. Responsibility: Act and Omission Michael Zimmerman 52. Partiality and Impartiality John Cottingham 53. Particularism and Principles Michael Ridge and Sean McKeever Part 6: Debates in Ethics 54. Welfare Christopher Heathwood 55. Ideals of Perfection Vinit Haksar 56. Rights Tom Campbell 57. Justice and Punishment John Tasioulas 58. Justice and Distribution M.G. Clayton 59. Life and Death Fred Feldman 60. Ending Life R.G. Frey 61. Population Tim Mulgan 62. Animals Alan Carter 63. Environment Andrew Brennan 64. The Ethics of Free Speech Mary Kate McGowan 65. The Ethics of Research Julian Savulescu 66. World Poverty Thomas Pogge 67. War Henry Shue 68. Terrorism and Torture David Rodin. References. Index
Biography
John Skorupski is Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. His books include Ethical Explorations (1999) and The Domain of Reasons (forthcoming in 2010).
'This fine collection merits a place in every university, college, and high school library for its invaluable articles covering a very broad range of topics in ethics. ... With its remarkable clarity of writing and its very highly qualified contributors, this volume is a must read for anyone interested in the latest developments in these important areas of thought and practice. Summing Up: Highly recommended.' - CHOICE
‘The Routledge Companion to Ethics is a great resource for students interested in ethics and will also make a first-rate reference volume for philosophers working in ethics. It covers an impressive range of topics, going well beyond entries on standard normative ethical theories and metaethical approaches to normativity. The history of ethics is particularly well represented and this volume is sure to set a very high standard for future collections.’ – Julia Driver, Washington University in St. Louis, USA
‘Written by leaders in the field, and with depth as well as breadth, this is the ideal companion for anyone with an interest in philosophical ethics’ – Roger Crisp, St. Anne’s College, Oxford, UK
'This marvellous book covers theoretical and practical aspects of ethics with admirable intelligence and freshness. As useful as it is enjoyable, it is sure to become an indispensible companion.' - Samantha Vice, Rhodes University, South Africa
'This volume amply satisfies its remarkably ambitious objectives. Its coverage of the field of ethics is as broad as feasible, while its in-depth discussions of various topics within that field are characteristically incisive, informative, and at the cutting edge of contemporary thinking.' - Richard Joyce, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
'This excellent volume is impressive both for the breadth of its coverage and the overall very high quality of the contributions. Non-specialists will find that most pieces provide an excellent map, along with in-depth discussion of the major positions taken on the subject; specialists will find plenty of interest, as well. An excellent read.' - Marcia Baron, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
