Ethics - A Very Short Introduction.pdf

This Very Short Introduction is shorter than Think, my other
introductory book, to which it stands as a younger sibling. Think
grew from a conviction that most introductions to philosophy were
unnecessarily dry and offputting; the present volume grew from a
parallel conviction that most introductions to ethics failed to confront
what really bothers people about the subject. What bothers them, I
believe, are the many causes we have to fear that ethical claims are a
kind of sham. The fear is called by names like relativism, scepticism, and
nihilism. I have tried to weave the book around an exploration of them.
But by the end it will be up to each reader to decide whether they have
been laid to rest, or whether, if like Dracula they rise again, they are at
least de-fanged.
I was invited to write this book by the editor of the series, Shelley Cox,
whose confidence and encouragement have been towers of strength to
me. The actual writing was done (will date the book) at the Research
School of Social Sciences of the Australian National University, perhaps
the most agreeable place in the world to embark on such a project. I owe
thanks to Michael Smith for the hospitality of the School. The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has always given me
marvellous research support, and an equally marvellous critical
audience of colleagues and graduate students. Among them, I owe
thanks to Adrienne Martin, who read the proofs. As always, my principal
debt is to my wife Angela, whose editorial and typesetting skills are not
usually at the service of an author under the same roof, and so needed
matching by her equally remarkable patience and cheer.
SWB
24 November 2000