Western Ethics

aeo A lengthy chapter is devoted to ethics during the Hellenistic period, and another covers highlights of the medieval period, including Thomistic natural law theory. aeo There is a chapter on Spinoza and one on the main points of Hegela s ethical theory. This volume provides a wide-ranging and lucid introduction to the major ethical theories found in the history of Western philosophy. The book begins with the ethical thought of Socrates and the Sophists in the fifth century BCE and concludes with the philosophy of Nietzsche at the end of the nineteenth century CE. An epilogue traces parallels between twentieth century ethical theories and those found in the previous history of the subject. Special attention is given to theories that have exerted considerable influence on contemporary ethics, namely those of Aristotle, Hobbes, Butler, Hume, Kant, and Mill. It is an ideal text for all introductory courses in ethics and moral philosophy. This volume provides a wide-ranging and lucid introducing to the major ethical theories found in the history of Western philosophy.