Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring

Our self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures is dogged by scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism, and 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. Here, 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 why we should mistrust the soundbite-sized absolutes that often dominate moral debates.

This second edition of the Very Short Introduction on Ethics has revised and updated aspects of the original to reflect changing times and mores. It highlights the importance of an understanding of approaches to ethics and its foundations, confronted as we are with a fluid and uncertain world of eroding trust, swirling conspiracy theories, and a dismaying loss of respect in public discourse.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Simon Blackburn, Professor Emeritus, Cambridge University

Simon Blackburn was Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and remains a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a Visiting Professor at the New College of the Humanities. His books include Think (OUP, 1999); Practical Tortoise Raising (OUP, 210); Truth, (Profile Books, 2017); and On Truth (OUP, 2018).

Preface to second edition
Introduction
1. Seven threats to thinking about ethics
2. Foundations
3. Some ethical ideas
References
Further Reading
Index