Theories of Ethics

Oxford Readings in Philosophy

by Philippa Foot (Editor)

These important essays by leading thinkers center around two principal the nature of moral judgement, and the part played by social utility in determining right and wrong. The contributors include R.M. Hare, John R. Searle, John Rawls, C.L. Stevenson, G.E. Moore, P.T. Geach, Philippa Foot, J.O. Urmson, and J.J.C. Smart.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Philippa Ruth Foot
Obituary

Reviews

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good selection of essays for discerning threads of modern ethical discourse.

I especially liked Geach's essay arguing for the attributive nature of the word Good, Searle's essay on a class of facts from which value statements can be derived, and all four essays (those by Urmson, Mabbott, Rawls, and Smart) on Utilitarianism (a philosophy to which I was previous not well acquainted with and can now be slightly more sympathetic toward).

[Ed Fernyhough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great introduction by Philippa Foot, but a lot of the essays from other contributors are now very dated