The Little Book of Ethics: An Introduction to the Key Principles and Theories You Need to Know

by Peter Salmon

If you want to know your consequentialism from your deontology and your Aristotle from your Kant, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the essentials of ethics

Embark on a journey of introspection and critical thinking with The Little Book of Ethics. In its most basic form, ethics is about deciding what is right and what is wrong. This accessible and thought-provoking guide will take you on a captivating exploration of the fundamental questions that form our decisions and actions, asking, what is the right thing to do in a certain set of circumstances? What can we base our decision on? Is there always a correct decision, or is it always a bit unclear?

This pocket-sized introduction offers a comprehensive overview of major ethical theories and philosophical ideas,
- The key concepts of ethics, from moral reasoning and consequentialism to moral responsibility, deontology and virtue ethics
- Real-world ethical dilemmas, such as bioethics and environmental ethics, and how to apply these principles to your own life
- The significance of ethical reasoning in everyday life, as well as its impact on broader societal issues

This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes and theories you need to know to navigate the intricate tapestry of human morality. A perfect gift for anyone taking their first steps into the world of ethics, as well as for those who want to brush up their knowledge.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2024

About the author

Peter Salmon is an Australian writer living in the UK. His biography of Jacques Derrida, An Event Perhaps, was published 2020.

He is a regular contributor to the New Humanist, and has been published in the Sydney Review of Books, the Guardian, the Tablet, Cordite and Versopolis.

His first novel, The Coffee Story (Sceptre, 2011), was a New Statesman Book of the Year.

He has written frequently for Australian TV and radio and for broadsheets including the Guardian and the Sydney Review of Books.

The Blue News, his satirical column about books and publishing, was subsequently collected and published by Melbourne University Press as Uncorrected Proof (2005).

He has received Writer’s Awards from the Arts Council of England and the Arts Council of Victoria, Australia.

Formerly Centre Director of the John Osborne/The Hurst Arvon Centre (2006-2012), he also teaches creative writing, most recently at Pembroke College, Cambridge and Liverpool John Moores University.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful start for me on ethics and has furthered my interest in philosophy as a whole. I haven’t read a book of my own volition in years so this was great. The small size made it less daunting and in the end helped me to get through it rather than putting it off as a long hard read I’d never feel ready for. I would recommend if you want a boost into ethics to get your head around some key ideas and get your head in the game for the bigger books to come after.

[Rmflorky · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book certainly served the purpose i bought it for: refreshing my memory on the basic principles of ethics i learned about in college. albeit, there was not as much detail as i would have hoped, but i feel that’s more of a “me” problem from not doing more investigating before purchasing. overall very easy to understand, a good refresher, and has me thinking more about ethics, which i so sorely missed!!