Long-hailed for skilled editing that enables students to explore many seminal and complex primary sources that contribute to the canon of ethical theory, GREAT TRADITIONS IN ETHICS has become the standard historical anthology for introducing ethical theory. Combining informative chapter introductions that provide biographical, historical, and theoretical contexts; well-placed comments inserted within the readings; and ample, but not overwhelming, reading selections, GREAT TRADITIONS IN ETHICS constructively challenges students to critically engage the most crucial ideas, thinkers, and readings in the history of ethical theory. With the Twelfth Edition, the authors focus on supplementing the readings with discussions of applying ethical theories?within the chapters and in the text's expanded Appendix.

This anthology contains readings in Western ethical theory by 27 philosophers from Plato to Bernard Williams. The late Denise (Syracuse U.) et al. begin with a section on classic ethical traditions and topics such as knowledge, virtue, and morality, and conclude with modern continuations and critiques of ideas such as social justice and religion. The introductions to philosophers have been revised, and the appendix on applied ethics (using the preceding readings) has been expanded. There is no index. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

New to ethical theory? No problem. GREAT TRADITIONS IN ETHICS-the standard historical anthology for introducing ethical theory-makes it easy to explore the many primary sources that contribute to the canon of ethical theory. Chapter introductions provide biographical, historical, and theoretical contexts, and classic reading selections are supplemented by comments that will help you understand the works. This anthology will challenge you to critically engage the most crucial ideas, thinkers, and readings in the history of ethical theory.

Theodore C. Denise received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and taught at Syracuse UniversityNicholas White obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University and currently serves as chair of the philosophy department at the University of California, Irvine. He specializes in Greek philosophy, epistemology, and ethics, having written several books and articles on each of these topics.Sheldon P. Peterfreund taught at Syracuse University for over 40 years, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

'Preface. Part I: CLASSIC ETHICAL TRADITIONS. 1. Introduction. 2. Plato: Knowledge and Virtue. From \"The Gorgias and the Repulbic,\"Books I-II, IV, VI-VII, and IX. 3. Aristotle: Moral Character. From \"Nichomachean Ethics,\" Books I-II, VI, and X. 4. Epicurus: The Pleasant Life. From the letters \"To Herodotus\" and \"To Menoceus,\" the \"Principal Doctrines,\" and the \"Fragments.\" 5. Epictetus: Self-Discipline. From the \"Discourses,\" Books I-IV, the \"Enchiridion,\" and the \"Fragments.\" 6. Saint Augustine: The Love of God. From the \"Enchiridion,\" Chapters XI-XII, XCVI, and C-CI, and the \"City of God,\" Books V, XII, XIV, and XIX-XXII. 7. Saint Thomas Aquinas: Morality and Natural Law. From the \"Summa Contra Gentiles,\" Book III, and the \"Summa Theologica,\" Articles I-III, and V-VIII. 8. Thomas Hobbes: Social Contract Ethics. From the \"Leviathan,\" Chapters VI, XIII-XV, and XXIX-XXX, and \"Philosophical Rudiments,\" Chapter I. 9. Benedict de Spinoza: Nature and Reason. Selections from \"On the Improvement of the Understanding,\" and \"The Ethics,\" Parts I-V. 10. Joseph Butler: Conscience in Morality. From \"Sermons,\" I-III and XI, and the \"Preface.\" 11. David Hume: Morality and Sentiment. From \"An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.\" 12. Immanuel Kant: Duty and Reason. From \"Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals,\" First and Second Sections. 13. John Stuart Mill: The Greatest Happiness Principle. From \"Utilitarianism,\" Chapters II-III. Part II: MODERN CONTINUATIONS AND CRITIQUES. 14. Søren Kierkegaard: The Leap of Faith. From \"Either/or, Fear and Trembling,\" and \"Concluding Unscientific Postscript.\" 15. Karl Marx: Morality as Ideology. From \"Karl Marx: Selected Writings.\" 16. Henry Sidgwick: Utilitarianism Revised. From \"The Methods of Ethics.\" 17. Friedrich Nietzsche: The Transvaluation of Values. From \"The Will to Power, the Genealogy of Morals (First Essay),\" and \"Beyond Good and Evil.\" 18. John Dewey: Scientific Method in Ethics. From \"The Quest for Certainty,\" Chapter X. 19. G. E. Moore: The Indefinability of Good. From \"Principia Ethica.\" 20. W. D. Ross: Prima Facie Duty. From \"The Right and the Good.\" 21. A. J. Ayer and C. L. Stevenson: Ethics as Emotive Expression. From \"Ayer\'s Language, Truth and Logic,\" Chapter VI, and Stevenson\'s \"The Nature of Ethical Disagreement.\" 22. Jean-Paul Sartre: Radical Freedom. From \"Existentialism and Human Emotions.\" 23. Kurt Baier: Good Reason in Ethics. From \"The Moral Point of View.\" 24. John Rawls: Ethics and Social Justice. From \"Justice as Reciprocity.\" 25. Philippa Foot: Moral Virtue and Human Interest. From \"Virtues and Vices and Other Essays in Moral Philosophy.\" 26. Annette Baier: Ethics as Trusting in Trust. From \"Trust and Antitrust.\" 27. J.L. Mackie: Inventing Right and Wrong. From \"Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong.\" 28. Bernard Williams: Ethical Skepticism. From \"Morality: An Introduction to Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy.\" Appendix: Traditions and Applications.\n

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