Wiley-Blackwell Contemporary Debates in Moral Theory (Contemporary Debates in Philosophy)

Contemporary Debates in Moral Theory features pairs of newly commissioned essays by some of the leading theorists working in the field today. Brings together fresh debates on the most controversial issues in moral theory Questions include: Are moral requirements derived from reason? How demanding is morality? Are virtues the proper starting point for moral theorizing? Lively debate format sharply defines the issues, and paves the way for further discussion. Will serve as an accessible introduction to the major topics in contemporary moral theory, while also capturing the imagination of professional philosophers. Review "...Dreier and his contributors are to be warmly commended for a high-quality volume which will be useful both to students and to those hoping to find fresh perspectives on some of the leading controversies in contemporary ethics and meta-ethics." Sarah Stroud, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "Dreier has selected a terrific line-up of first-rate philosophers, and has added to their lucid and enjoyable pieces an excellent introduction of his own. The contributors not only summarize the current scholarly state of play, but often advance the discussion in novel and exciting ways." Russ Shafer-Landau, University of Wisconsin "Dreier's collection shows excellent judgment both in his choice of topics and authors. These essays clearly illustrate the fundamental issues in some vital debates in ethics, while displaying where important disputes remain." Daniel Jacobson, Bowling Green State University From the Inside Flap Contemporary Debates in Moral Theory is a collection of new essays addressing central questions in contemporary ethics and moral philosophy. Questions include: • Are moral requirements derived from reason? • How demanding is morality? • Are virtues the proper starting point for moral theorizing? Eight central questions shape the volume, with each question sparking a pair of opposing essays, summarizing the most important and forceful grounds of each position. Together, the essays provide an accessible introduction to the major topics in contemporary moral theory. From the Back Cover Contemporary Debates in Moral Theory is a collection of new essays addressing central questions in contemporary ethics and moral philosophy. Questions include: • Are moral requirements derived from reason? • How demanding is morality? • Are virtues the proper starting point for moral theorizing? Eight central questions shape the volume, with each question sparking a pair of opposing essays, summarizing the most important and forceful grounds of each position. Together, the essays provide an accessible introduction to the major topics in contemporary moral theory. About the Author James Dreier is Professor of Philosophy at Brown University. He works mainly in meta-ethics, and has published articles on relativism, expressivism, moral realism, practical rationality, decision theory, and the structure of normative theories.