The present volume is a clear, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the issues of ethics. It was first published in 1986 and has since established itself as the most suitable handbook of moral philosophy at the undergraduate level in American universities.

This edition is the sixth and has been completed and revised by his son and fellow scholar James Rachels, Stuart Rachels. The author begins by attempting to formulate a definition of ethics. He then examines the most important ethical theories: cultural relativism, subjectivism, ethical egoism, the concept of social contract, the moral philosophy of utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, feminism, and virtue ethics.

He presents and analyzes the arguments and counterarguments of each ethical philosophical position, drawing examples from specific and real events. In the last chapter, he presents his opinion on what a satisfactory ethical theory would look like. An afterword by the editor is included in the Greek edition, as well as a selection of titles from the Greek literature.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]