Ethics: A Beginner's Guide

Beginner's Guide (Oneworld Publications)

by Peter Cave

How ought we to live? Should we aim to maximise happiness? Are there certain characteristics that we should try to foster within ourselves? From Utilitarianism to Kant's Categorical Imperative, from the Ancient Greeks to Sartre, Peter Cave presents ethics through a fascinating global historical lens, and relates it to everyday life and 21st century politics. He traces the development of this key branch of philosophy up to the present day, introducing readers to all the main schools of thought. With his characteristic wit and clarity, Cave takes on good and evil, existentialism and relativism, and handily guides us around some of the most common potholes in ethical reasoning. Applying moral theory to topical and controversial issues like the environment, abortion, and animal welfare, this is the essential primer to the subject.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2015

About the author

Peter Cave lectures in philosophy for The Open University and New York University (London). He frequently contributes to philosophy magazines and journals, lectures around the world, and has scripted and presented philosophy programmes for the BBC. He is the author of eight books on philosophy, including Humanism: A Beginner’s Guide and the bestselling Can a Robot be Human?: 33 Perplexing Philosophy Puzzles.

Reviews

[Sam Berner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book in terms of content, but Cave writes like he talks, and talks like he thinks: in circles and helixes. One of the worst examples of English syntax ftom a native speaker. The last two chapters are the best, most clearly written, part of the book; the rest leaves the reader questioning what the author wanted to say. This is not a beginners' book.
The reading suggestions at the end are valuable.

[Ahmadov · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon himself“

[Cliff Chew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to get some exposure to the philosophical thoughts of ethics, and this book did well at the start. However, towards the end, the concepts were getting harder and harder to comprehend (or maybe I slowly got more stupid). I do feel that this could actually be on me than the writer itself. However, I have to give it a lower rating because that's just how I felt about the book.

Still, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in basic exposure to the philosophy of ethics. Be warned that philosophy could be something that is hard to swallow, even if you wanted to go into the field (leisurely) with the best intentions.

[Helen the Bassist · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
Probably not my best choice for bedtime reading but I definitely learnt something to add to the basics that I gleaned from the excellent TV Show 'The Good Place'.

Accessible and worth the effort.

[dehsaR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing can be better

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good intro to ethics. It helped me understand the basics and I hope will give me a foundation for understanding more complex works.